Royal Marines Help In Beach Clear-Up
A team of Royal Marines have moved more than 200 tonnes of sand that drifted onto a road in Devon.
The overspill had been building up for the past two years and has caused a hazard to passing pedestrians and motorists around Instow beach.
Work started at around 8am on Monday with members of the 11 (Trials and Training) Squadron from Plymouth-based 1 Assault Group clearing sand off the road.
Major Martyn Heenan, the Officer Commanding of 11 Squadron, said:
"11 Squadron are only based 300 metres away from here and we share the beach with Instow Parish Council.
"We've been here for 75 years, so when they asked if we were able to move some sand, it's very close and good training for us and it helps out the local community."
Major Heenan explains: "We're moving about 300 tonnes today.
"It had banked up over the wall into the road, so if you wanted to walk down the path you had to walk down the middle of the road."
"We're clearing the problem back, and moving it 100 metres down into the sand dunes and stacking it up there.
"Anything that helps out the community that we're part of has got to be a good thing."
Last year the squadron cleared the sand on the other side of the beach at the coastal resort.
11 (Trials and Training) Squadron develops and trains amphibious and fording capabilities of all in-service vehicles.
It also teaches beach engineering for the Royal Navy and wider Armed Forces.
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