A Second World War shell was safely exploded by disposal teams at Sandwich Bay on Tuesday.

A dog walker found the shell on the beach at Sandwich Bay when the dog, a three-year-old labrador called Barney, sniffed it out at 4pm on Sunday and reported it to the coastguard.

Andy Nye, watch officer at Dover Coastguard, said: “The ordinance team were down there and made sure no members of the public were near but luckily it is a quiet area of the beach anyway. Bomb disposal teams have a small bit of explosives and sandbags and set it off in its place. It’s safer to do it there than move it.

“If it was moved it could become dangerous.”

The safe explosion was carried out at 5.15pm on Tuesday.

Mr Nye added: “If a member of the public sees this sort of thing, do not touch it. Get an approximate position and dial 999, and ask for the Coastguard straight away.

“The shells have been there a long time and if they are lifted or rolled over it could easily go off.”

For the full story and more pictures of the explosion see tomorrow's Sandwich edition of the East Kent Mercury.

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