IT has been compared to a scene from the classic post-war movie Whisky Galore! But the Maritime and Coastguard Agency was among those who failed to see the funny side, accusing plunderers on a Devon beach of "crass greed".

Unsurprisingly, the amazing spectacle of hundreds of looters helping themselves to a wealth of easy pickings from the stricken container ship MSC Napoli stirred up contrasting emotions.

The "something for nothing" brigade certainly didn't appear to spare a thought for the owners of the shipwreck or the long-term effects of pollution from fuel leaking into the sea.

But were they displaying plain greed or could their bizarre behaviour be put down to making the most of an impromptu treasure hunt?

A leading psychologist at Dorset HealthCare Trust said: "There is nothing like a free lunch or possibility of something for nothing to bring out an individual's personality in the raw."

Even the threat of being fined up to £2,500 failed to deter scavengers who waded into the icy waters at Branscombe beach on an unusually busy January day.

Their booty included 50 new motorbikes, exotic paintings, trainers, Bibles and even soggy disposable nappies.

One man who had ended up with tins of dog food admitted he didn't even have a four-legged friend.

Disputes quickly broke out over who had first claim to the motorbikes with rival groups fighting to keep hold of the valuable vehicles.

Mechanic Hector Bird, 33, from Branscombe, was unrepentant. He said: "A whole lot of us came down from the village at 2am when we learned there were 20 bikes on the beach.

"We asked the police and they said it was legal for us to take them so long as we gave them all of our details and registered it with them. I feel we are not stealing them, just helping the authorities to clear up."

One local woman salvaged new carpets for her home. Another said: "I was walking down the cliff path and met a bloke who just said: If you want trainers, they're on the left, and videos are on the right.'"

Geoff Bray, a consumer behaviour lecturer at Bournemouth University, said: "Everybody likes a bargain, even if it's something that's of no use to them or they have no need or desire for.

"There is a great sense of achievement which can be seen during the January sales when people end up buying coats that don't fit, are the wrong colour or they don't even like because they are cheap.

"It's hysteria and they can even get physical to buy certain goods. It's a natural instinct in all of us because we are evolved from hunter gatherers. With our wealth growing the need to net a bargain has declined but the need remains. Internet auction sites have made it easy to move things on."

On Tuesday, in a final bid to stem the looting, the beach was closed to the public.

With more than 2,000 containers still on board the listing vessel, roadblocks were put in place to take away temptation for would-be "treasure hunters" who had travelled hundreds of miles and risked life and limb in search of something for nothing.

  • Under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 it is illegal for people to "conceal or keep possession of the cargo and refuse to surrender it".

Instead, they must fill out an official Report of Wreck and Salvage form with their name, contact details and an inventory of everything they take. The Receiver of Wrecks can ask for items to be returned.