Owners of boats and other items at Meols Parade are being encouraged to come forward and claim them as Wirral Council prepares to make safety improvements to the area - which won't be the boats' final resting place.

More than 30, mostly unused boats, dinghies and other marine related items have been at Meols Parade for a number of years and, in an attempt to ensure resident safety, improve the surrounding area and reinstate the car park, the boats and other items now need to be removed.

Some of the boats are in serious disrepair and are causing a significant safety hazard. These boats have been cordoned off to warn walkers and residents using the area to avoid them.

The council has tried to identify the owners of the boats through different means, including contacting the local yacht groups and the RNLI, but no residents have come forward to claim the items as yet. The next stage is for notices to be attached to the boats letting the owners know they need to move them within 28 days or legal steps will need to be taken to get the area cleared.

Notices have been issued and placed either on the safety fencing directly in front of each boat, or where it was safe to do so, directly onto the boats.

Heswall's Conservative councillor, Andrew Hodson, also Chair of the Regulatory and General Purposes Committee at Wirral Council, said:

"Boats have been stored in this area for a number of years. It's clear that there are a number that haven't been moved for a significant amount of time, have rotted and are no longer seaworthy.

"We are trying to find the boat owners so we can make plans to get these boats moved on, and the area returned to somewhere that is safe, and attractive, for local people."

Any boats that are considered dangerous and a safety risk will be issued with notices requesting they be moved immediately. All other boat owners will be given 28-days notice to make arrangements to move their vessel.

If boats are not moved voluntarily, the council will have to take legal action to move them on, make the area safe and start work to return it back to the wider community.