Shell find prompts call for explosives warning at Tentsmuir Beach
A call has been made for warning signs at a Fife beach where there have been regular finds of mortar bombs and shells.
- By Claire Warrender
- Published in the Courier : 10.01.12
- Published online : 10.01.12 @ 08.48am
Dog walker Gary Pearson has found three explosives at Tentsmuir since April, and expressed concern that someone could be injured or killed.
The metal detector enthusiast from Halbeath found a six-inch naval shell at the beach near Tayport on Sunday. He immediately phoned the police, who called in the army's Explosives Ordnance Division.
However, darkness was falling and the experts could not see to act safely so the area was cordoned off until they returned on Monday.
They were back on the beach at 8am, when it was discovered the shell was inert and did not need to be blown up.
Mr Pearson found a similar inert shell on December 30, which was also removed by the military.
He said both shells were six inches in diameter and between 16 and 18 inches long and although they ultimately posed no threat, he could not determine that by looking at them.
However, more alarming was when he found a 10lb mortar on the surface of the beach on April 17.
''Three people had walked past it and they had a dog with them. I could tell by their footprints,'' he said. ''It looked like a 1.5-litre juice bottle and obviously the people hadn't noticed it.
''Imagine if it had been a bairn who had found it and he had gone and kicked it.''
He added: ''That one was blown up on the beach because it was too dangerous to move. I think there really should be signs to warn people these shells are there and not to touch anything.''
The official advice is not to approach any suspected explosive, but to contact the authorities immediately.
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