Alert for swimmers over banana containers debris

Festive swimmers in West Sussex have been warned that metal fragments may still be in the water after containers fell from a cargo ship and washed up on beaches.

Three shipping containers remain missing after falling from the Baltic Klipper cargo ship off the coast of Bembridge on the Isle of Wight on 6 December.

Arun District Council have urged swimmers, particularly those taking part at an event in Selsey on Boxing Day morning, to take care.

The council wrote on Facebook: "Following the recent shipping container incident, there may still be metal fragments in the sea along our coastline.

"Waste and debris from the containers can be washed ashore with each tide."

Seatrade, which owns the ship, says 13 of the 16 containers have been recovered with work ongoing to locate the three which are missing. Most the containers washed up on West Sussex beaches.

The British Maritime Accident Investigation Agency has launched a formal investigation into the incident and Seatrade said it was offering its full cooperation.

No crew members were injured, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said.

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