Unusually low tides uncovered the biggest ever haul of shells and anti-submarine depth charges off the Island's coast.

Last week we reported how about 20 items had been discovered off Leysdown and officers from the Royal Navy's Explosive Ordnance Department (EOD) were alerted.

They carried out a number of controlled explosions of the devices, which included a 10lb shell and high-explosive mortar shells.

But after last week's paper went to press, further items were found and more controlled explosions were carried out on Saturday.

This has prompted EOD officers to spend three days on the Island clearing as much ordnance as possible to reduce the amount found by members of the public.

It is thought case loads of munitions dumped off the Kent coast after the Second World War are now disintegrating and washing up on shore.

Another theory is that they could be from crates of explosives jettisoned during the war and another possibility is that they have come from the mortar firing range in the Shellness and Seasalter area.

There are thought to be hundreds of thousands of items still undisturbed in the water off Sheppey - not even counting the SS Richard Montgomery.

Although this recent haul is believed to be between 70 and 80 years old, there are thought to be explosives dating back to the 1830s which are still uncovered.

Sheppey coastguard rescue officer James Crane said: "This is the biggest ever haul in one place on the Island.

"Although they are generally safe if treated with respect, we would advise the public not to touch them but leave them where they are, call 999 and ask for the coastguard."

A spokesman for the EOD said: "There have been really low tides which have uncovered this.

"They have always been there but it's very rare that we get these tides."

The EOD was due to complete its three-day sweep of the beach on Wednesday and the spokesman said more than 40 could have been dealt with by the time it's finished.