A 20-foot baulk of timber floated into the entrance of Watchet Marina and triggered a warning to shipping.

The timber, which protected a ladder in the marina’s lock chamber, came adrift last week.

It became wedged across the entrance to the marina lock, reducing water levels by nearly half a metre and causing a ‘Notice to Mariners’ to be issued by the district council’s harbour master.

Commercial fishermen reported that the wood was not affecting their sailing times, which were already decreased by the growing amount of harbour mud.