A CRACKDOWN on divers who plunder sunken warships has been welcomed by campaigners in the region.

The Ministry of Defence has announced that an existing law protecting wrecks will be stringently enforced - with divers who break the rules facing fines of up to £5,000.

There are an estimated 97 wrecks, including several warships, off the North-East and North Yorkshire coast.

David Walsh, the leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, which has seen a number of suspected war-time equipment washed up on its beaches in recent months, welcomed the Government announcement.

He said: "I would hope that wrecks off all coastlines would be protected."

He said the recent recovery of the Russian submarine Kursk, in which 118 crew died, highlighted the need to prevent unnecessary heartache for relatives.

The MoD said that the Protection of Military Remains Act, which has not been enforced since its introduction in 1986, will now be rigorously pursued after complaints from war survivors' associations.

Sixteen vessels will be designated controlled sites, in which exclusion zones will be enforced around the areas, accompanied by a licensing system.

A further five ships, including the Sir Galahad, on which 50 men were killed during the Falklands War, are to be designated protected sites.

Such moves will effectively enforce a "look, don't touch" policy for divers, making it illegal to remove items, the MoD said.