Mr Trett said it was initially thought the ship could be removed from its muddy bank in sections but experts had to remove the ship timber by timber.

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The latest action in France follows the brief blockade of a ship carrying Cameroon timber at the Spanish port of Valencia on Saturday.

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Most egregious, though, are the boxloads of special favours for industries from timber producers to cruise-ship owners.

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One group for visually impaired people, Open Sight, which meets in Waterlooville, spent time dressing up as Tudor characters and handling objects including pieces of timber from the 500-year-old ship.

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