Army called in to help clear bombs from UK beach as 170 devices discovered overnight
By Anna Riley & Anna Savva - The Daily Star
The army had to be called in after a massive cache of 170 unexploded bombs was discovered on an East Yorkshire beach.
Bomb squads attended the scene after the horrifying discovery was made late last night on a former military site.
Recent coastal erosion is said to have exposed buried bombs, with the army scouring the whole area to make it safe for the public.
The 600-acre Cowden Sands beach in Mappleton was previously used by the RAF and US Air Force as a practice bombing range until 1998.
The range targets were situated at the top of a cliff above Mappleton Beach, which is situated on the fastest eroding coastline in the UK.
The latest cache found last night is among an estimate 1,000 bombs the army are working to detonate and deactivate.
The Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Group, of 35 Engineer Regiment, have been clearing Cowden Sands to protect the public since July 13, Hull Live report.
They are making the East Yorkshire coastline safe from the unexploded ordnance in three weeks and the majority having to be destroyed in controlled explosions.
Rapid erosion has led to significant amounts of ordnance being exposed on the beach itself.
The brigade has been operating on the coastline to ensure that controlled explosions of ordnance found are carried out in a safe way.
Reassuring local residents, troop commander and second lieutenant Sam Turner, said: “Ministry of Defence explosive ordnance clearance teams have attended the beach on numerous occasions to make the beach safe for the public but recent erosion has revealed a significant pocket of buried unexploded ordnance which has fallen onto the beach and now needs to be removed.
“The safety of the public is always our first priority. Warning signs have been put up and red flags are visible.
"The public are reminded to adhere to the warning signs and not to pick up or remove any objects."
Any items deemed free from explosives were removed from the beach and transferred through the logistic chain to be repurposed.
The majority of unexploded ordnance (UXO) had been practice bombs, aircraft projectiles and land service ammunition such as the historic two-inch mortar, also known as two-inch howitzer.
Second Ltnt Turner added: “The weather determines how much work the team has, because things can change overnight as to what new items are unearthed.
"At one point, we thought we had completed the task, but then 170 items appeared overnight with the next tide."
The teams are set to complete the task on August 12.
A long-term plan to deal with unexploded ordnance on the beach is also being developed.
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