Shipping in the English Channel has been warned of bundles of timber floating free following its loss from a Russian vessel.

Around 8.15 this morning coastguards were alerted to the loss of 1,500 metric tonnes of sawn timber which has been lost from the deck of the 1991 built, 137 metre, Russian vessel `Sinegorsk', 14 nautical miles south of Newhaven. The vessel was heading towards the South West and on to Alexandria in Egypt from Oskarshamn in Russia.

The vessel with 25 people on board initially developed a 15 degree list and is now heading for shelter towards the Isle of Wight.

The crew on board also began to take ballast water into the vessels starboard side to help even the list, which has reduced her list to 10 degrees.

Coastguards are broadcasting alerts other vessels to the sea borne debris. The Coastguard Tug, the Anglian Earl which was in Boulogne has been sent to provide a presence at the site of the loss to warn other approaching ships and to monitor the rate of drift.

The weather in the area is poor at present, with southerly winds veering southwest force 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally Storm 10 with moderate to rough seas and squally rain.

In the meantime, work at Falmouth Coastguards is continuing following the lightning strike on Saturday which put it out of use. It is hoped to be up and running again tonight.