Stricken ship's anchor on display

The anchor is part of a display marking the event

The anchor from the stricken container ship, MSC Napoli has been unveiled on the Devon beach where she was grounded 18 months ago.

The 13.5 tonne anchor is the centrepiece of a display at Branscombe to mark the event.

The remains of the ship are still being salvaged off nearby Sidmouth.

The Napoli's hull was damaged in a storm off the south coast of Cornwall on January 18 last year when she was en route from Antwerp to South Africa.

The storm-damaged vessel was grounded off the resort amid fears she could break up and cause an environmental disaster in the Channel.

The crack in the hull was due to design faults said the MAIB report

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch later blamed the ship's "flawed" design.

Mark Rawson, of Zodiac Maritime Agencies, speaking on behalf of the vessel's owners, Metvale Ltd, said: "I have to say I am very sorry that the problems that beset us were brought to your coastline and your communities.

"This is not what we wanted - it is not how we run our business and it is not a thing we would ever wish to happen again."

The Napoli's crew of 26 abandoned ship when it ran aground and were airlifted to safety.

In the ensuing salvage operation, about 50 containers washed up at Branscombe, which led to thousands of people trying to make off with anything they could carry, from disposable nappies to car parts and BMW motorcycles.

All that remains of the vessel is the rusting stern section, which is expected to be fully removed by the end of October, marking the conclusion of an estimated £50m salvage operation.

Later this month the first meeting of a local public inquiry team will take place to look at how the ship came to be grounded in Lyme Bay and the subsequent actions of the various agencies involved.