SALVAGE teams are to cut up the last section of a stricken container ship which was beached off the world heritage coast.

Around 4,000 tonnes of metal will need to be cut from the stern section of the MSC Napoli in the next 20 days.

It is all that remains of the 62,000-tonne ship that was intentionally grounded off Sidmouth, east Devon, after being damaged in a storm.

The bow section was towed to a scrapyard in August after the wreck was broken up using explosives.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said the weight of the stern needs to be reduced so it can be lifted on to a barge and taken away for recycling.

The lifting of the shell of the stern on to the barge is expected to start in March and take around 12 days.