Whitley Bay: Clear-up begins as overboard timber beaches

Logs have been washing up on North Tyneside beaches

Beach-goers are being warned to be wary as timbers swept from a cargo vessel in bad weather have started washing up.

The logs were lost from the Scot Explorer off the North Sea coast at Blyth on Wednesday morning.

North Tyneside Council said it had started clearing logs which had washed up at beaches at Whitley Bay and Seaton Sluice.

The vessel is owned by Scotline and was on its way from Dover to Scotland when it hit rough conditions.

Scotline told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that 70 metric tonnes of timber had been lost from the ship, which has docked in Sunderland to secure its remaining cargo.

A company spokesman said: "Scotline does not own the logs and is not responsible for the salvage which lies with the cargo owner, but has been working with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and North Tyneside Council for their quick recovery and disposal".

'A concern'

The coastguard was alerted to the spillage at about 11:15 GMT on Wednesday and sent a fixed-wing aircraft to survey the area.

A North Tyneside Council spokesperson said: "We have been clearing the logs that washed up after they fell from a cargo ship last night, we are working with the cargo owner to arrange for their collection or disposal."

The local authority also issued a warning on X, formally Twitter, to residents urging caution for those in or on the water in Whitley Bay or Seaton Sluice.

Whitley Bay councillor John O'Shea said: "What has been reported about timber being washed up on the beach is naturally a concern.

"However, I am so pleased that the council are working with the cargo owner and acted quickly to remove any debris which could pose a danger to residents and other shipping arrangements."

The MCA said it was a lawful requirement to report property recovered from the shore to the Receiver of the Wreck.