A LONG-LOST First World War submarine which was sunk after sailing from a North-East town has finally been found in the North Sea.

The E16 was reported missing in August 1916 after setting out from Blyth in Northumberland to destroy German submarines.

It has now been discovered by a team of divers 18 miles off the German coast near Helgoland island.

The divers found the vessel's propellers had been destroyed, probably struck by a mine.

A spokesman for the MoD said: "We have not yet received formal confirmation of its discovery or its identity, but assuming it is the E16, she was lost on August 22 1916 when she was mined.

"She operated from Blyth and was one of an 11-submarine flotilla."

The E16 was commanded by Lieutenant Commander KJ Duff-Dunbar DSO who died along with all 30 crew members.

Naval experts have now appealed for the wreck not to be disturbed.

George Malcolmson, spokesman for the Royal Naval Museum in Gosport, Hampshire, said the discovery will end the mystery of the victim's final resting place and be some comfort to their relatives.

He added: "It's the final chapter in the vessel's history. We now have an end to the speculation over what happened.

"Now we just call for people in the diving community to respect the sanctity of the war grave."

The diving expedition's cameraman Sascha Kellersohn, who was shooting footage for a German documentary about wrecks, vowed to keep the submarine's exact location a secret to protect it from gravediggers.

He said: "It's a grave. There are no signs of any remains but 31 people died in there. It would be wrong to disturb it."

He said there were no plans to dive again for the wreck or to try and lift it from the seabed.

The E16 was one of 54 E class submarines used during the First World War, 20 of which were lost in battle.

It roved the North Sea for two years and had sunk a German destroyer and U-boat.

Blyth was a major base for submarines during the First World War.