In a rare occurrence the multiple bright orange 'Danger' warning buoys surrounding a Thames shipwreck have been removed this evening (November 10).

The buoys warn sailors of the danger of the SS Richard Montgomery shipwreck which sank with 1400 tonnes of explosives onboard back in 1944, just 1.5 miles off Sheerness, Kent.

Vessel Medway Hunter was seen removing the buoys after sunset, shortly after Port of Sheerness had issued a notice to mariners that they were being removed to assist with ongoing survey work of the wreck.

The notice warns mariners: "To mitigate the increased risk involved with the buoy removal, Medway VTS will issue a broadcast on VHF Ch.74 every hour warning all vessels that the wreck buoyage has been diminished."

Only four large yellow warning buoys at the north, east, south & west corners of the 250 metre exclusion zone around the wreck have been left in place.