A SENIOR politician has raised serious concerns about the risk of ammunition exploding on a sunken ship on the 75th anniversary of the vessel sinking.

The SS Richard Montgomery sank off the coast of Sheerness in Kent on its way to allied-occupied France on August 20, 1944.

Now, Labour peer Lord Harris has raised fears that the munitions on board the vessel could explode as the ship is quickly breaking-up.

Lord Harris, said experts had told him that the ship’s wreckage may only have a few years remaining before it disintegrates completely.

However, south Essex fisherman and historians say it may be best to just leave it alone – and they don’t feel too concerned.

Paul Gilson, 65, who runs his Gilson’s fishing firm based in Leigh, said: “I don’t really feel too worried about this.

“It will need a trigger to spark it and set it off before any explosion. If there was an explosion most of the energy would go into the air.

“There may be a few broken windows in Sheerness if anything happens but I do not think there is a huge risk of this happening.

“Any boats affected by this would have to be very close and we don’t have many fishing boats in this area these days.”

Historian, Robert Hallmann, 84, from Hadleigh, said it could be best to leave the ship alone and not tamper with it.

He said: “So much has been said and written about it.

“It could have exploded anytime since it sank.

“It does sounds like there’s a risk, but the question is whether that risk is larger if we leave it where it is or do something with it.

“If someone touches the ship it could set off an explosion.

“This needs to be sorted by a military expert.”

Access to the wreck is prohibited under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973. But this has not stopped people visiting the site.

The last known incursion into the area was by a paddle-boarder in 2015.

The ship sank with more than 6,000 tonnes of munitions on board.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency estimated that, after salvage operations, some 1,400 tonnes of munitions remained on the ship.

However, others suggest there could be more than double that amount.