Navy blows up 15 wartime shells after beachcombers uncovered the explosives in a rock pool while searching for fossils

  • Member of the public found two shells in rock pools while looking for fossils
  • The coastguard then found more making a total of 15 on Saturday afternoon
  • Royal Navy carried out controlled explosion just before 6pm yesterday evening

By Bryony Jewell For Mailonline

Published: 16:41 BST, 4 August 2019 | Updated: 16:44 BST, 4 August 2019

The Royal Navy has blown up 15 wartime shells after beachcombers found them in rock pools while looking for fossils.

A member of the public discovered two shells lying in rock pools exposed by low tides at Kilve Beach near Watchet in Somerset.

While they were waiting for the bomb squad, the coastguard found more, making a total of 15.  

The Navy blew up 15 wartime shells, pictured, after a beachcomber and the coastguard found them on Kilve Beach in Somerset

The Navy blew up 15 wartime shells, pictured, after a beachcomber and the coastguard found them on Kilve Beach in Somerset

The Navy carried out a controlled explosion just before 6pm on Saturday evening. 

A cordon was in place while the Bomb Disposal Team from the Royal Navy made their way to the beach from Plymouth. 

To safely dispose of the find a hole was made in the mud and sand and the shells were placed in them.

This was then covered over and a controlled explosive device detonated by experts.  

Video from the scene shows the moment the detonation happened and a large plume of sand was sent flying into the air.

The shells, one pictured, were covered with sand and mud before the controlled explosion

The shells, one pictured, were covered with sand and mud before the controlled explosion

The shells, one pictured, were covered with sand and mud before the controlled explosion

The Bomb Disposal unit destroyed the shells just before 6pm yesterday evening. Pictured is the explosion

The Bomb Disposal unit destroyed the shells just before 6pm yesterday evening. Pictured is the explosion

The Bomb Disposal unit destroyed the shells just before 6pm yesterday evening. Pictured is the explosion 

The beach had been closed to the public while the Navy and Avon and Somerset Police disposed of the shells. 

A HM Coastguard spokesperson said: ‘If you find anything suspicious on the beach or shoreline, don’t touch it but instead dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.’

Kilve beach is famed for being the Jurassic coast on the Bristol Channel making it an ideal location to try and find fossils. 

The beach is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a favourite haunt of geologists, reports VisitSomerset. 

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