EXCAVATION work on an 17th Century ship which sank just off Southend Pier has been slowed up after bad weather hit the area.

Divers are currently attempting to get The London which has been stuck on the seabed since 1665 back onto dry land so it can be displayed in a museum.

However, work commissioned by English Heritage has been hit by high winds meaning archeologists have not been able to dive for three of the first six days of work.

The aim of the excavation is to save artefacts from the "rapidly deteriorating vessel".

Work is expected to take two years to complete with items from the ship set to go on display at Southend Museum.