of the U.K. Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC). The Liverpool Telescope is operated on the island of La Palma by Liverpool John Moores University in the Spanish Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos of the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias with financial support from the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council. TRG is supported by the Gemini Observatory, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., on behalf of the international Gemini partnership of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. CEW, AH and RDG are supported by NASA/JPL Spitzer contracts. The work of DKL, RJR and RWR is supported by The Aerospace Corporation’s Independent Research and Development Program. MFB was supported by aBBC, oceanographer David Griffin from Australia's national science agency said the location of where the debris was found is "consistent with where we think debris might have turned up".

(Image: Getty)

Among the debris, a suitcase was found by workers on a Reunion beach.

Relatives of those who on board flight MH370 are said to be planning a lawsuit against Malaysia Airlines if a piece of debris is confirmed to be from the missing aircraft.

Zhang Qihuai, a lawyer representing several of the families, said a group of around 30 relatives had indicated they would take action if it was proved.

(Image: Getty)

Some families are already pursuing settlements through insurer Allianz.

Reunion island - where wreckage from a Boeing 777 is believed to have been found - is a 40-mile long island around 4,000