The bones of British sailors who lost their lives whilst fighting for their country are at the mercy of looters as not enough is being done to protect their resting places, a maritime trust has said.

Those who lost their lives in the Royal Navy are having their final resting places plundered and their bodies dredged up as laws protecting them is "fragmented" and the Government is failing to take action, campaigners say.

New technology and diving methods means that wrecks are being discovered frequently, with now thousands known about across the world, but often "quick footed robbers" are the first on the scene.

Vice Admiral Sir Anthony Dymock, who is a trustee of the Maritime Archeology Sea Trust, said: "At the moment sleeping dogs are not being left to lie and something needs to be done about it. It should be a matter of national embarrassment."

The Trust is calling for a Government department to take responsibility for the issue, for funding to secure sites, and better co-operation between police forces and national crime agencies.

The protection of military remains act, which was passed in the 1980s, gives automatic protection to military aircraft which have crashed, but with the wrecks of ships designation has to be applied for.