People in Skegness have described being “moved to tears” after debris was found on a large stretch of the beach following a crash involving two ships.

The impact between an oil tanker and cargo vessel Solong in the North Sea, off East Yorkshire, on 10 March, triggered an explosion and fires, which have been extinguished.

One crew member of the Solong, a Filipino national, is missing and presumed dead. The Russian captain of the cargo vessel has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter.

The owners of the cargo ship admitted tiny plastic pellets, held in containers on board, had been released. The coastguard said they were being removed from the beaches in Lincolnshire and Norfolk.