Brummie cashes in on shipwreck

Jan 25 2007 By Anna Jeys, Birmingham Mail

A BIRMINGHAM seller has been seeking to cash in on the grounded cargo ship in Devon by selling directions on an internet auction site.

The seller, listed on auction site Ebay as "kingsta186", is selling directions to Branscombe Beach, where the MSC Napoli was deliberately run aground after suffering damage in a storm.

Hundreds of people invaded the beach over the last few days to pick up goods that had been washed ashore, including Perfume, Motorbikes and Car Parts.

Police have now moved in to remove people from the beach and stop the chaotic looting of goods.

But the city-based seller was today still encouraging Brummies to make the trip to Devon by selling exact directions from the city to the beach for £10.

The description on Ebay read: "Get directions from your front door to the Ship Wreck Napoli.

"Believe me this information could be worth to you a brand new BMW motorbike or nappies for generations of kids.

"Also for salvage are Nike trainers, cars, computer games, clothes, the list goes on.

"The winning bidder is to email postal code and directions will be emailed within hours of purchase. All proceeds go to my daughter's school fund."

The seller was stated as living in Birmingham and the directions were up for sale until Saturday.

Only a trickle of beachcombers now remain at the Devon beach and the area is being fenced off as a massive clean-up operation continues.

Six hundred sea birds are likely to have died as a result of oil leaks from the ship, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said today.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "People still on the beach who have any property in their possession will be asked to declare it before they leave and fill in the relevant forms or hand the property to the Receiver of Wreck.

"If they refuse to do either of these requests they could be arrested for theft."