Published at 11:11, Thursday, 26 April 2012

A BOMB disposal unit blew up a shell yesterday found on Drigg Beach.

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The controlled explosion was carried out on the old navy shell by members of the Royal Navy bomb disposal team based at Helensburgh in Scotland.

Whitehaven Coastguards were alerted to the shell on Tuesday morning but no action could be taken due to the rising tide.

The coastguard team then photographed the shell and sent the pictures to the Liverpool Coastguard and navy bomb disposal experts in Scotland.

After arriving on the scene yesterday morning, the team alerted Liverpool Coastguard and Sellafield of their intention to blow up the shell.

Members of Whitehaven Coastguard team were also on the scene as the bomb disposal unit gave their 10-minute warning to clear the area.

They then safely exploded the bomb using a remote control.

Jamie King, coastguard section manager for Cumbria, said: “The shell may have looked old, but it was filled with high explosives.

“I would urge people who see anything suspect on the beach, to call 999 and ask for the coastguard.’’

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk