Work to remove the remaining section of MSC Napoli from Lyme Bay will start in early May, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has announced.

The ship was deliberately beached in Lyme Bay after it was damaged in storms while en-route to South Africa in January 2007.

It was split in two last July after a series of controlled explosions and the bow was taken to Belfast. The stern section of the vessel has remained aground in Lyme Bay.

Explosives will be used to remove the propeller, the rudder, and to cut the propeller shaft. They will also be used to weaken the structure of the main engine to assist its removal. The aft section will then be systematically removed. The whole operation is expected to take roughly five months.

A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "The Secretary of States Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention has made the decision to cut up the remaining section and take it away in small pieces, rather than removing it in larger pieces, following analysis of all options available.

"The option to cut the remaining section into smaller pieces is preferable since there could be issues with anchoring and cutting through the main engine and propeller shafting if the stern were cut up into larger pieces."

A pollution control plan will be in place throughout the entire operation. Following removal from the site, material will be transported to Holland for recycling.