August 20 marks the 77th anniversary of the UK's most dangerous shipwreck sinking in the Thames, one and a half miles north of Sheerness in Kent.

American liberty ship 'SS Richard Montgomery' ran aground and sunk on a sandbank on 20 August 1944 - and went down with 1400 tons of explosives still on board - which some say makes her a 'ticking time bomb'.

Successive UK Governments have generally left the wreck to fate, but do conduct yearly surveys. The wreck is also monitored 24/7 by Peel Ports Sheerness on behalf of HM Coastguard.

Footage (taken close to low tide) shows the ship's three masts that are always visible above the waterline, with the Essex coastline which is 4 miles away seen in the background.

The UK Gov hopes to award up to £4 million contract for them to be cut off in 2022 to reduce strain on the aging vessel if they can find a contractor.

Today (August 20) marks the 77th anniversary of the UK's most dangerous shipwreck sinking in the Thames, 1.5 miles north of Sheerness in Kent.

American liberty ship 'SS Richard Montgomery' ran aground and sunk on a sandbank on 20 August 1944 - and went down with 1400 tons of explosives still onboard - which some say makes her a 'ticking time bomb'.

Successive UK Governments have generally left the wreck to fate, but do conduct yearly surveys. The wreck is also monitored 24/7 by Peel Ports Sheerness on behalf of HM Coastguard.

Footage (taken close to low tide) shows the ship's three masts that are always visible above the waterline, with the Essex coastline which is 4 miles away seen in the background.

The UK Gov hopes to award an up to £4 million contract for them to be cut off in 2022 to reduce strain on the ageing vessel, if they can find a contractor.