More than 2,000 tonnes of timber carried on deck was lost to the sea back in January and some of this cargo made its way up the Channel, the majority initially coming ashore along the Sussex coast including Birling Gap.

Very little arrived at Eastbourne until the severe storms of Monday and Tuesday last week, which resulted in several hundred planks being washed up on half a dozen beaches at Holywell.

Councillor Steve Wallis, Cabinet spokesperson for the envorinment, said, "We are working closely with the contractors and Natural England to arrange for the timber to be removed from our beaches.

"We are keen to reduce the impact of the timber on the beaches and natural environment, and to ensure that removal is by the best possible means."

The vessel owners have appointed contractors which will be responsible for recovery of the timber cargo.

The timber will be collected from the beach after Easter for disposal by recycling.

After removal from site the timber will be chipped which will reduce the timber to biomass.