Off-roaders face wrath of wildlife trust ... and car hire firm
THREE men were trapped sinking in sand when they ignored safety barriers and drove a rented nine-day-old £100,000 Range Rover on to a protected beach.
The tourists were spotted stuck next to the 4x4 on South Walney Nature Reserve in Cumbria. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and the beach has protections that mean it is illegal even to walk on it, with signs warning motorists not to drive on the sand. After unsuccessful attempts to free the car on Sunday, it was towed the next day, covered with mud and with its windows broken. The group is likely to face a large bill from the hire company.
The three men, believed to be from the West Midlands, were pictured looking confused and “remonstrating wildly” by Tony Jesson, a member of the Cumbria Wildlife Trust. The 41-year-old, from Carnforth, Lancs, said: “They’d definitely gone to great lengths to get on that beach.
“There are very clear posts up saying ‘do not go on the beach’ and there are even wooden trunks acting as a barrier.
“The tide was coming in at the time we were there, about 3.30pm. They had precisely one hour to get the car unstuck or it would be consumed by the tide. We sat there for an hour watching them trying to drive it out, pull it out, dig it out. It was very much stuck.”
Following the incident, the beach has been damaged by oil that threatens vegetation and wildlife on the site.
A Cumbria Wildlife Trust spokesman said: “I am appalled that some people think this is acceptable behaviour.”
Cumbria Police confirmed officers were investigating the incident and no arrests had been made.