Morgan's cannon found

Marine archaeologists have recovered six iron cannon from a reef not far from the mouth of the Panama Canal.

They believe the weapons were lost in the 17th century by Captain Henry Morgan.

The cannon were prised from the reef a week ago amid fears they might be plundered by treasure-hunters and could be the only physical evidence tying Morgan to the region upon which he had such an impact more than 300 years ago.

A privateer for the Crown sent to protect trade routes to the Americas, Morgan was seeking to capture the Castillo de San Lorenzo, at the mouth of the Chagres River, from the Spanish when his command ship, the Satisfaction, foundered with three other ships that were following him. He burned the town to the ground but was eventually forgiven by King Charles II for his carelessness and sent to Jamaica where he became Lieutenant-Governor.