Youngsters got a rocket from Army bomb experts after throwing around a live shell washed up on a beach.
Colchester Garrison's bomb disposal team was called to carry out a controlled explosion on Sunday, after the six pound Hodgkinson's shell was discovered at King's Hard in West Mersea.
The blast was heard across the river in Bradwell when they blew it up at 6.25pm.
And the squad were horrified when the Coastguards who were first on the scene told them children had been playing with the fragile device.
Bradwell Coastguard Dick Townshend said: "After the initial 999 call, the informant confirmed that kids had been playing with it previously and their mother made them put it down.
"After they detonated it, one of the children involved was advised by the bomb disposal team on how lucky they had been."
Published Tuesday August 3, 2004
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