WORK has begun to clear the first of five wrecks from the shoreline of one of Suffolk's most popular beauty spots.Babergh district councillor Bryn Hurren, chairman of the Pin Mill task group, struck a symbolic first few blows on the rotting wooden hull of the barge the Maid of Connaught.

WORK has begun to clear the first of five wrecks from the shoreline of one of Suffolk's most popular beauty spots.

Babergh district councillor Bryn Hurren, chairman of the Pin Mill task group, struck a symbolic first few blows on the rotting wooden hull of the barge the Maid of Connaught.

He then climbed into the cab of the machine that will really do all the work for a few lessons on the art of operating its large metal pincers.

Mr Hurren said the project had taken three years of work.

He said: "It's a terrific achievement in partnership working with the people living down here and hopefully we have secured a better future for the people living on the houseboats."

Mr Hurren said he had mixed feelings about launching the death of a ship and all the history that went with it.

But he added: "Things have sunk to depths at Pin Mill that are regrettable. I assure local people we shall be going on with this task of regenerating this area and Babergh will be playing a large part in that."

The whole operation of clearing the five wrecks from the foreshore is dependent on the tides in the River Orwell and Eastern Contractors, of Chattisham, will have just four days to clear away the remains of the Maid of Connaught before the tides change.

Babergh District Council was the prime mover in setting up the Pin Mill task group, which brought together all the various parties with an interest in Pin Mill, including Associated British Ports at Ipswich, the National Trust and the Environment Agency as well as local groups in Chelmondiston and Pin Mill, in partnership.

The council also put £50,000 towards the wreck clearance and has received contributions from other sources for the work.