Chipping begins on washed-up wood

Worthing beach was shut to allow contractors to remove the timber

Work has begun to turn 2,000 tonnes of timber washed up on a West Sussex beach into woodchips before it is removed.

Beaches along the Sussex coast from Ferring to Hastings were littered with the timber after the Ice Prince ship sank off Dorset on 14 January.

Worthing was the worst affected, which the borough council said had left the town with a "huge problem".

The pine timber has been collected in the Heene area, from where the woodchips will be removed by lorry.

The beach between the pier and lido was reopened at the start of February.

In a letter to residents, the council said chipping was the only option for removal which would allow all of beach to be reopened in time for Easter.

It said the noise of the chipping machine - which operates at about the same decibel level as busy street traffic - would cause some disturbance.

"We do realise this is a lot to ask of both residents and businesses nearby, and indeed our visitors," it added.

The cost of chipping and removing the timber will be part of the council's claim against the Ice Prince's insurers.