The public is being reminded about the law when it comes to finding wreck material on the coastline after the wreck of a French fishing boat ended up in Cornwall in recent storms.

Alison Kentuck, Receiver of Wreck with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), said: “All wreck material recovered must be reported, however small or seemingly insignificant.

“The type of material that must be reported includes any part of the hull, fixtures, fittings, cargo and any fishing equipment.

“If you recover an item, you have 28 days to fill out one of our report forms and submit it to us. You can find the forms on our website.

“Those who don’t declare items are breaking the law and could find themselves facing fines of up to £2,500 and paying the owner twice the value of the item recovered.”