Beach in Devon evacuated after suspected bomb discovered
Watch as crews attend Beer Beach on Sunday (25 August) after reports of the discovery of an unexploded bomb.
A beach on the Devon coast has been evacuated after a suspected unexploded bomb was discovered.
The object washed ashore in Beer, a seaside village in east Devon, on Sunday afternoon and is believed by some witnesses to be a shell.
Devon and Cornwall Police said they received reports of a “suspected unexploded ordnance” at 4pm and put a cordon in place, which has since been lifted.
A nearby road was also closed while police and members of the Coastguard secured the area.
An explosive ordnance disposal unit attended the scene but could not access the object because of incoming tides, HM Coastguard said.
Martin Richards, chairman of Beer Parish Council, said “full squad of coastguards” were on the beach and people could not “get anywhere near it”.
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He added: “A shell may have washed up onto the beach earlier on today.
“They’ve phoned the police and the bomb squad are on their way up now to see what it is. The beach has been evacuated."
It is understood the suspected ordnance may have first been spotted by a metal detectorist who raised the alarm.
Beer Coastguard Rescue Team returned at next low tide on Monday (26 August), but despite an exhaustive search, the item was not found.
Devon and Cornwall Police also attended.
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