Bomb disposal experts have carried out a controlled explosion on a Second World War mine found off the coast of Herne Bay.

The device was discovered by fisherman Ben Cooper, who caught it in his net and dragged it two miles from the shore, at 5pm yesterday.

He took the Royal Navy bomb disposal unit to the site of the German parachute bomb this afternoon - about two miles off the coast.

They detonated it just after 3pm, with plumes of water rising more than 160 feet (50 metres) in the air.

Known as a GC mine, it was blown up in a depth of six metres.

Four members of the Royal Navy bomb disposal unit, based in Portsmouth, carried out the controlled explosion, which went without a hitch.

Petty Officer Diver Ken Smith said: "A fisherman has brought up a land mine, that is probably from the Second World War, in his fishing net.

"He has brought it back towards the shore and it is in four metres of water, two miles north of the coast. We are going to dispose of it in position."

The Coastguard set up a one-mile exclusion zone around the mine.

Royal Navy spokesman Simon Smith said: "The location was fortunate because it was not in the way of shipping lanes and we did not have to enforce any diversions."

Video: Bomb disposal unit heads out to detonate a wartime mine at Herne Bay