A cargo ship has been scuttled off the coast of Cyprus in a bid to make an artificial reef.

The 63-meter Elpida, sunk off the port city of Lanarca, is the biggest of the five vessels that was sent to the depths, hoping it would attract marine life and divers from abroad.

Costas Kadis, minister of agriculture, rural development and environment said: "We are talking about a typical sustainable development project that contributes to the enrichment and the protection of the marine biodiversity and at the same time, at the enrichment of the touristic product and the economic activity of the area in a sustainable way."

The sinking of the ship was coordinated by the fisheries department and the Larnaca Tourism Board.

The project was funded by the EU and Cyprus through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund 2014-2020.

Another smaller vessel will join the Elpida in the coming days.