Controlled explosion at Drigg Beach after discovery of artillery shell
Whitehaven Coastguard says the 105-millimetre artillery shell was first reported on Sunday
A controlled explosion has been carried out on a piece of wartime ordnance found on Drigg Beach in Cumbria.
Whitehaven Coastguard says the 105-millimetre artillery shell was first reported by a member of the public and investigated on Sunday evening (24 August).
Yesterday morning, teams returned to the site after their coordination centre in Belfast tasked them to respond (25 August).
A safety cordon was put in place before the Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit from Catterick arrived and carried out the controlled detonation at 12.43pm.
The Coastguard has thanked people in the area for cooperating while the device was made safe, reminding anyone who spots suspicious items along the coast to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
HM Coastguard is responsible for maritime search and rescue across the UK, covering everything from cliff and mud rescues to missing person searches and ordnance disposal.
In Cumbria, that also includes the inland waters of Derwentwater, Ullswater, Coniston and Windermere.