Car stuck in sea after being driven over dunes

A car is still stuck in the sea at a Kent beach two days after being driven over protected sand dunes, the coastguard says.

The HM Coastguard Romney Marsh team was tasked with recovering the car from the water at Greatstone near Romney Sands at about 10:00 GMT on Thursday.

The team and Kent Police remained on the scene for about seven hours but were unsuccessful in getting the car out of the sea. There were no reported casualties, the coastguard said.

On Saturday morning, the coastguard said the recovery had still not gone ahead and police were trying to trace the vehicle's owner.

Kent Police said no arrests had been made.

A HM Coastguard Romney Marsh spokesperson said: "The dunes at Greatstone in which this vehicle drove over to get to the beach are protected and provide a unique habitat for plants and animals.

"Driving over these dunes and damaging them constitutes a criminal offence."

This was not the first time a vehicle had been reported driving over the dunes, the coastguard added.

Folkestone and Hythe District Council, which the coastguard says may be involved in the recovery, has been contacted for more information.

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