Starmer praises banana container clear-up teams

Sir Keir Starmer has praised the "extraordinary" volunteers who helped clear-up Sussex beaches after shipping containers mainly filled with bananas were washed ashore.

Teams of local volunteers raced to avert environmental damage last month by collecting debris, such as plastic and foam packaging, which was strewn from the units after they fell from a ship near the Isle of Wight.

Speaking in Parliament during Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions, the prime minister praised their quick efforts, describing those involved in the operation as "the very best".

He also said that the cost of restoring the affected coastline would not lie with taxpayers but with "the polluter" itself.

Sir Keir was replying to a question from Bognor Regis and Littlehampton MP Alison Griffiths.

She said: "Late last year, the cargo vessel Baltic Klipper lost 16 containers which polluted the beautiful West Sussex coastline with toxic debris.

"The clean up was initiated and led almost exclusively by resolute local volunteers whose efforts were extraordinary."

The containers fell overboard on 6 December, breaking open in choppy seas off the coast of Bembridge.

Seven containers washed up in Selsey, two at Pagham Harbour and two at Bognor Regis.

Sir Keir said: "Let me pay tribute to the local agencies and volunteers who supported the clean up efforts - they are the very best.

"Liability (for what happened) sits with the polluter and agencies.....should work with the responsible party to recover the costs."

Seatrade, which owns the Baltic Klipper, has been contacted for comment.

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook,X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.