A woman who stole shingle from a Suffolk beach to decorate her garden has been told she was breaking the law.

A 39-year-old woman was advised that her actions on Felixstowe beach were illegal after a member of the public reported her to Suffolk Coastal District Council.

The witness said they saw three adults and a child had filled four to six large bags with shingle on two occassions and then take them away in the back of a car.

The incident happened near The Dip at Undercliff Road East.

Armed with the car’s registration number and photos of the vehicle Suffolk Coastal contacted police on August 28 who used the information to track down the woman to a home in Ipswich.

She admitted she had taken the shingle and police dealt with the issue by way of the community resolution.

Paul Patterson, Senior Coastal Engineer for Suffolk Coastal and Waveney District Council’s Coastal Management Team, said: “The removal of pebbles, shingle or sand from Suffolk’s beaches is unacceptable because it may contribute to the erosion of the shoreline or increase the risk of flooding.

“Where there is evidence of this occuring the Council will take action against those responsible.”