Southend beach closed after live bombs found

A beach in Southend was closed to the public after live bombs were found.

Artillery and mortar shells were found washed up on East Beach in Shoebury on Wednesday night, Echo News reports.

Scott Dolling, acting head of service for economy, regeneration and tourism told Echo News: "Due to the increasing amount of unexploded ordnance items being found within and near to East Beach, and with public safety our first priority, we feel we must take the decision to temporarily close the beach.

"The MOD has started surveying works which once completed will allow us to properly assess the risk and make an informed decision as to what we do next. We are working with them to get this work done as quickly as possible."

The news comes after the beach was closed on Easter Sunday when seven pieces of WWII ordnance and six machine guns were found by a dog walker.

Michael King, 54, called the MOD and a controlled explosion was carried out.

Speaking to the Southend Standard, he said: "There must have been horrendous battles out there and there will be lots of stuff coming up over the next couple of years. "I would've thought a plane had crashed there at some time for these guns to appear."

Last February, a woman who went foraging for seaweed on a beach in Pembrokeshire found more than she bargained for when she discovered three World War II mines.

Julia Horton-Powdrill was walking along Caerfai beach, near St Davids, with the intention of collecting seaweed when she noticed a mine during low tide.

She then spotted two more in the watery sand, and believes they were unearthed by the rough sea.

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