Giant mountains of wood have hit almost every beach along the town's coastline, drawing visitors from across Sussex.



Worthing was worst affected, but timber is also washing ashore in Littlehampton and Shoreham and experts say it can also be found as far away as Beachy Head.

The timber comes from the cargo ship Ice Prince, which was on its way to Egypt when it sank 25 nautical miles south of Portland on Monday.



Her crew of 20 was rescued, but around half of the timber they were transporting was lost to the sea.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is warning the public not to attempt to salvage any of the timber, although people have been seen loading wood into trucks from beaches in Goring and East Worthing.



Alison Kentuck, receiver of wreck, said: "The owners of the ship have appointed their own salvage company to come and retrieve the timber. I understand they will then try to sell it on.

"We are trying to get out the message that people need to stay safe and not attempt to take any of the timber from the beach.

"It is illegal and the police are taking a hard line on this. Anyone found to be doing so could be fined quite heavily.

"There have been people trying to do so, but when you explain their legal rights, most of them understand."

Worthing Borough Council is responsible for organising the clean-up efforts, although mayor Heather Mercer said the priority at the moment was ensuring people's safety.



She said: "We are keeping the media up-to-date with what is going on and would urge people to take care and listen to the advice they are given.

"When I saw this, my first impression was 'wow, what a spectacle', but then the implications of it hit.

"The good thing is that the contractors have a good deal of experience in dealing with this kind of event as they were involved in what happened at Branscombe last year."

Many of those working for the MCA on this operation are volunteers, and Mrs Mercer said she is already planning a reception in her parlour to thank them for their hard work.



As Worthing residents learned what was going on, thousands flocked to the beach to take a look at what many believed was a once-in-a-lifetime sight.

Dozens could be seen taking photographs and many just stood watching in amazement at the sheer scale of what had happened.

Helen Moules, 50, of Thalassa Road, said: "It is just absolutely fascinating and the smell the wood is giving off is gorgeous – it certainly makes a change from seaweed.

"When we got to the bottom of our road and turned the corner we couldn't believe what we were seeing.

"I've certainly never seen anything like it."



Her neighbour, Margaret Finley, 64, said: "We've seen people carrying wood off home. It just goes to show how strong the tide and winds are to bring all this wood here."

Thirty-year-old Tracy from Southdown View Road, Broadwater, brought her two children Rebecca, 10, and Harry, two, down to the seafront to have a look.

She said: "Harry really likes hearing the big dumper trucks empty their loads of wood. He thinks its great.

"I did just encounter one parking attendant though who didn't realise what was happening. He thought this was to stop the seawater from causing floods. It was so funny. I couldn't believe he didn't know."

The beach between Worthing Pier and the Lido, thought to be the worst hit area, is closed off while the salvagers start their huge task of recovering all the timber.

Worthing Pier is also closed while health and safety checks are completed to ensure it is structurally sound.

It is thought the operation to rescue all the planks, many of which are six metres long, could take weeks.

Pictures by Herald photographer Steve Goodger.

Click here to see photographs submitted by Herald readers.

For lots more pictures and coverage, see Thursday's Worthing Herald.