Last container taken from Napoli

More than 100 containers were washed off the stricken ship

The last container has been removed from the stricken MSC Napoli off the Devon coast.

The vessel was grounded off Branscombe in January and salvers have since lifted 2,300 containers off the ship.

The 53,000 tonne vessel was damaged during force eight gales and was beached in Lyme Bay.

A team of divers were employed and an army of volunteers helped to clear the cargo and debris from the seabed on a daily basis.

The clean-up involved volunteers who were guided by experts from East Devon District Council, the Marine Conservation Society and Devon Wildlife Trust.

Public inquiry

BMW motorbikes, nappies and unused hypodermic needles were among the items to wash up on coasts from the ship's containers.

The Receiver of Wreck received reports of about 1,400 items being salvaged.

The Napoli was deliberately grounded amid fears she could sink during a tow to Portland, having suffered hull damage in the storm.

She was carrying more than 2,300 containers, of which 110 went overboard and 58 were washed ashore.

The clean-up operation was part of a push to ensure east Devon beaches were ready for the summer.

Devon County Council is to hold a public inquiry into the beaching of the ship.

The council said it was starting a preliminary exercise to gather evidence before progressing with the inquiry later in the year.