Wood from a cargo ship that hit rocky waters earlier this week has washed up on the Thanet and Dover coastlines.
Hundreds of tonnes of the sawn timber started to come ashore throughout Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
Crews from Thanet council were sent to deal with the wood on beaches in Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate.
It has been gathered into piles, and police officers were keeping watch to stop people from trying to steal it.
One worker said they would have to wait for further instructions before knowing for sure what they were going to do with it all.
Despite the freezing conditions and biting winds, onlookers braved the weather to get a look at the strange scenes.
In Broadstairs, Peter Coveney was watching the crews gather the wood and taking pictures.
He said: “It started washing up last night I understand. I came down this morning to walk the dog and couldn’t believe my eyes, there was wood everywhere and it still seems to be washing up.”
The timber fell from the Russian registered vessel the Sinegorsk in the Channel on Monday, 14 miles off of New Haven, Sussex.
Around 1,500 tonnes are thought to have gone overboard into the sea while it was sailing form Alexandria in Egypt from Oskarshamn in Sweden.
Mr Coveney added: “I was following the story on the news and thought there might have been a few planks wash in off the boat but I never expected to see this many, it looked quite odd.
"From the top of the cliffs in Broadstairs it looks like someone had dropped a giant box of matches along the coast.”
The cargo still belongs to the original owner and Kent Police have warned that any attempts to remove any of what has been washed up will be treated as theft.
Area Commander for East Kent, Chief Supt John Molloy, said people could be putting themselves at risk by venturing onto the shoreline to collect the wood.
He said: “We are working with the coastguard and our partner agencies to make the beaches safe.
“I would like to remind people that the shoreline can be a dangerous place, particularly with the current poor weather and people could be putting themselves at unnecessary risk by venturing into the sea to salvage the timber.
“This cargo remains the property of the original owner and to steal it is not only foolhardy, but also a criminal offence.
“Anyone who does venture to the shore to look should park their car considerately so that emergency vehicles are able to gain access to the area if necessary.”
Contractors have been appointed by the insurers to recover the lost cargo.
A timber reporting line has been established by Kent County Council.
Any member of the public sighting washed up timber cargo are asked to call 08458 247247.
POSTED: 22/01/2009 13:15:00
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