THE Coastguard tug Anglian Monarch has recovered a 25-tonne ship's hatch cover floating in the busy Dover Strait.

The floating hazard off Dover, was reported to the Coastguard by a passing vessel on Tuesday and the Anglian Monarch was sent to locate and recover the object. Anglian Monarch is now alongside at Folkestone.

If operations permit, the hatch cover will be landed and stored at Folkstone.

If any organisations are aware of any such loss they are asked to inform the Maritime and Coastguard Agency Counter Pollution and Response Branch Telephone 0044 2380 329525 or e mail toby.stone@mcga.gov.uk

The size of the cover is approximately 12 metres square ver appears to be in good condition with the wheels and several cleats free and can be turned by hand.

There is evidence that it may have come from a cargo ship carrying grain and it is estimated to be from a vessel approaching 60,000 to 70,000 tonnes, if not bigger.

Toby Stone, MCA head of counter pollution said: "This hatch cover had to be removed from the busy shipping lanes and would certainly be capable of causing catastrophic damage to a small vessel like a yacht and could even damage the hull of a larger vessel if hit at speed."