KILVE beach was closed to the public after three pieces of World War Two “military ordnance” had been discovered after recent cliff landslides.

Royal Navy bomb disposal experts later destroyed the objects, thought to be ammunition used during tank exercises on clifftop fields.

A Watchet Coastguard spokesman said a member of the public had raised the alarm after finding two pieces of ammunition on the beach.

“Our team then spotted a third projectile, lying in a rock pool, exposed by the recent weather we suspect, and potentially having fallen onto the beach from recent landslides.

“During World War Two the area between Lilstock beach and Kilve beach was used by Allied forces to practise tank firing on targets which were towed across the clifftop fields.

“Some of the projectiles entered the sea and others landed in the soil of the field, and with coastal erosion have fallen onto the shoreline.”

Bomb disposal experts removed the projectiles which were then buried in sand, primed with an explosive and detonator and destroyed on Saturday. The beach was then re-opened to the public.

The Coastguard spokesman added: “If you find anything suspicious on the beach, don’t pick it up, but record the location and dial 999 for the Coastguard.”