Dog runs after ball on beach and brings back 'hand grenade'

A dog walker got something of a surprise when she threw a ball on the beach - and her pet came bounding back with what appeared to be a hand grenade instead.

Beverley Milner Simmonds, 40, is actually a volunteer coastguard called upon to deal with wartime explosives uncovered in storms at Burnham-On-Sea, reports The Sun.

But she was still unnerved by the finding.

According to the Bristol Post, she said: "I was walking our puppy when I got the shock of my life.

"She'd been happily chasing her ball when she got distracted in amongst some debris on the high water mark.

"Like most coastal areas we have had a lot of rough seas recently and there was quite a mix of flotsam and jetsam.

"I reached down to pull her away and saw the crack in the side and realised to my relief that it was just a toy. For a split second though, I feared for my life."

Tris Newey, Severn Sector Manager for HM Coastguard, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "A number of real ordnance devices have been uncovered on beaches around the country in recent weeks following the storms, so I'm relieved that this particular item turned out to be harmless.

"We would always advise beach users who find suspicious objects to be cautious and dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard. We never mind getting called out if there are genuine concerns and people's safety is at risk."

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