Salvaged wood likely to become woodchip

MORE than 100 tonnes of timber which washed up on beaches across Suffolk could be turned into woodchip.So far between 100 to 150 tonnes of timber have been cleared from beaches and collected at Dunwich and Southwold.

MORE than 100 tonnes of timber which washed up on beaches across Suffolk could be turned into woodchip.

So far between 100 to 150 tonnes of timber have been cleared from beaches and collected at Dunwich and Southwold.

The timber was first washed up at the end of January after falling from a Russian registered cargo ship off the Sussex coast.

A spokesman from Suffolk Coastal District Council said: 'The clear-up work is being carried out by contractors who will definitely not be paid for by council tax payers but will probably be paid for by the insurance company.

'We have two crews, one in Dunwich and one at Southwold. Dunwich is a more sensitive operation because most the beaches they are working on sites of special scientific interest, so the contractors are having to work very carefully in partnership with Natural England to make sure they are not damaging the fauna.

'The wood is being stored and then contractors will take it away. It is not of use for anything because it is building wood for Egyptian market and cannot be used in the building industry in this country.'