A Western Daily Press campaign to protect the final resting places of sunken war vessels has been well received in Parliament.

More than a third of Britain’s MPs have backed the paper’s calls for an international agreement to be drawn up banning divers from looting the watery tombs.

Major political figures such as William Hague and Sir Edward Heath have voiced their support for the ban.

And a further 183 MPs including Ken Livingstone, Simon Hughes and Martin Bell have signed two Early Day Motions, which were introduced to Parliament following the launch of the Daily Press campaign.

Both Motions demand a 100-metre exclusion zone to be placed around any ship which has been sunk during wartime.

There will be a Ministry of Defence report on the subject next month, which will increase calls for the Prime Minister to take action.

In total, 12,000 vessels have been sunk in battles since 1914 and many of the sites have been raided by deep sea divers looking for authentic trophies of war.

But following the campaign’s launch, many divers have written to the WDP defending their hobby.

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