Bomb disposal teams have been called to Southend after three explosive devices were spotted on a beach.
HM Coastguard Southend were called to the discovery by a local bait digger on mudflats in Chalkwell on Tuesday with officers arriving on the scene to investigate and take pictures of two objects originally thought to be present.
These were eventually sent over to an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team from Colchester barracks who agreed to meet up with the team on the beach on Thursday morning once overnight tides had uncovered a further device, identified as a mortar bomb, to deal with.
The three objects were blown up by the bomb disposal experts as they had been found with further checks confirming no more in the area had been left behind.
Writing on their Facebook page a spokesman for the coastguard thanked residents for their cooperation after a secure cordon had been placed during the incident. They explained the city’s history may have contributed to the discovery.
They said: “Southend was targeted directly by bomber aircraft in WWII and the Thames Estuary area was often used by bomber aircraft as a dumping ground for their bomb loads during the war if their primary target was not possible to hit on the way to or back from London.
“Due to this, anti-aircraft shells are quite common in our locale, along with other devices. Also, coupled with a MOD base and testing range that has been based at Shoeburyness and Foulness for over 150 years, all types of unexploded military ordnance can and does wash up on the shore/offshore – it comes in different shapes and sizes and isn’t always easy to spot.”
“If you ever see something suspicious or out of the ordinary on the beach or in the sea, do not touch it, move it or take it home. Let the experts decide if it is safe.”
“Move to a safe space and call 999 and ask for the Coastguard so our teams can investigate.”
Meanwhile a spokesman for the Army specified the explosive was a mortar bomb from the Second World War.
They said: "We can confirm that an Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was called out on 7 Apr 22 to attend an incident on the beach at Southend.
"Upon inspection the item was found to be a Second World War-vintage two-inch High Explosive mortar bomb and it was destroyed by controlled explosion. At no time was there any danger to local residents and we thank the public for their patience."
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