Timber stacked in planks up to 10 feet deep has washed ashore along a seven mile stretch of coastline east of Selsey Bill, East Sussex. It came from the deck cargo of the sunken Greek freighter Ice Prince which went down off Portland Bill when her cargo shifted and she took on a fatal list.

The beach at Worthing seems to have taken the biggest hit from the planking. Some beachcombers in vans have already turned up to make a new start in the timber trade.

Meanwhile small boat owners, and windsurfers have been warned about hitting planks which are still afloat.