WATCHET Coastguard search and rescue team responded to three separate calls to investigate the discovery of wartime ammunition on local beaches.

And the team also answered two call-outs to assist with searching for a missing person from Burnham-on-Sea.

The pieces of ammunition – from World War Two and more recent military activity in the Bristol Channel – were found after strong tides and weather shifted beach material.

On each occasion, the Royal Navy’s mine and dive clearance team attended with the coastguards and on the first two reports removed the ordnance.

However, on Monday morning the third report resulted in the five found items being destroyed in a controlled explosion.

On Sunday, the coastguards were diverted from a routine patrol to help with a search of the Steart peninsula for missing man Dean Tate, from Burnham-on-Sea, who was last seen on Saturday night.

The large multi agency search also involved the police, Exmoor Search and Rescue, Burnham-on-Sea Coastguards and Burnham lifeboat as well as other organisations.

They faced some of the coldest weather in recent times, with freezing winds and temperatures causing salt water rock pools and sea foam left by the ebbing tide to freeze.

Anyone who finds a suspicious object on the beach or shorelines should not to touch it but report it to the Coastguard who will investigate and deal with accordingly. 

* If anyone has any information relating to the missing man Dean Tate is asked to contact the police. Further details can be found on the Avon and Somerset Police website.