Warning as timber is washed up on coast

POLICE have warned the public to not take hundreds of bundles of timber swept across the coastline after they fell off a cargo ship.

A vessel, the Frisian Lady, lost around 200 bundles of timber during severe weather and they have been scattered across the coastline of south-east Scotland.

Timber has now been reported as washing up on beaches between St Andrews in Fife to Eyemouth in the Scottish Borders.

The cargo vessel lost much of its load while 110 nautical miles east of Souter Lighthouse, off the coast of South Shields, Tyne and Weir.

Some of the timber was recovered at sea and the rest of the packets in various sizes between 8ft to 10ft long are believed to have largely broken up into individual planks.

Chief Inspector James Jones of Police Scotland is urging members of the public not to attempt to salvage the timber.

He said: “Some areas of coastline can be dangerous, with strong tides, deep water and rocky areas.

“Do not put yourself at risk by trying to recover any of the timber yourself. Contractors who are brought in to clear the timber away have been trained to deal with such situations and have the equipment to do so. Leave it to the professionals.”

HM Coastguard had been issuing navigational safety broadcasts to warn shipping of the lost cargo.

All recoveries of wreck material must be reported to the Receiver of Wreck, currently Alison Kentuck, who said the lost timber would be of no useful for building.