A TOTAL of 15 wartime shells uncovered by recent tides on Kilve beach were blown up by bomb disposal experts in a controlled explosion yesterday.

The beach was cordoned off after members of the public had discovered a military shell, and a search of the area by coastguards found a number of other wartime munitions which had been exposed by the tide.

A Watchet coastguard spokesman said that Navy bomb disposal experts from Plymouth decided that, due to the condition and age of the shells, they should be dealt with on the beach.

Police kept people away from the beach until the bomb disposal team arrived.

The coastguard spokesman said: “A hole was dug in the mud and sand near the low water mark where the 15 different calibre shells were placed before being covered over and a controlled explosive device detonated to destroy them all.”

The beach was reopened to the public at 6pm.

He issued a reminder not to pick up anything suspicious that is found on the shoreline. Instead, the location should be recorded using a grid reference or the Smartphone what3words app, then dial 999 for the coastguard.