Navy bomb disposal teams have carried out a dramatic controlled explosion after people searching for fossils in rock pools on a beach near Bristol discovered a huge collection of unexploded wartime shells.
A member of the public discovered a couple of the shells lying in rock pools exposed by low tides at the popular Kilve Beach near Watchet in Somerset, and alerted the authorities.
HM Coastguard from Watchet attended and found one lying among the rocks in shallow pools.
They set up a cordon around the area and cleared the scene, and called up the nearest Bomb Disposal team, who rushed up from a naval base in Plymouth.
While they were waiting for the bomb squad, the coastguard found another dozen or more - making a total of 15.
The Navy bomb disposal team arrived, and carefully lifted them out of the water, and carried out a controlled explosion in the middle of the evacuated beach.
"If you find anything suspicious on the beach or shoreline . don’t touch it but instead dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard," said a spokesperson for HM Coastguard.
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