Riverdance has been beached near Anchorsholme since it was hit by a "freak" wave on January 31 during a journey from Warrenpoint in Northern Ireland to Heysham.

Demolition crews from Heysham-based Hancock's Contractors Ltd have now boarded the stricken vessel.

They will cut the ship, from the inside out, into pieces weighing around 20 tonnes and then transport it to be recycled.

Wyre Council leader, Coun Russell Forsyth, fears there could be some disruption along Amounderness Way as a result of the operation.

A 350 metre exclusion zone remains in place around Riverdance and members of the public have been warned to stay away or risk prosecution.


However, Blackpool's Deputy Council leader, Coun Ian Fowler, who is helping to oversee the demolition of the stricken ferry for the council, says he "does not foresee" problems with commuter traffic.

He said the movements of the cut up pieces would be done between 8am and 8pm and he hoped there would be little impact on commuter traffic.