Police evacuated a popular beach to allow the Navy to blow up a Second World War shell.
On the job - the Navy's bomb disposal team arrives Pictures: ANNA LUKALA 2SMS73
A 200m stretch of Old Leigh was sealed off for five hours after the high-explosive shell was found in mud next to Bell Wharf.
A 50ft plume of water sprayed into the air at 10.30pm last night as Royal Navy bomb disposal experts performed a controlled explosion offshore.
Police evacuated the area at around 5pm after the shell was spotted. Evening walkers were turned away from the popular beauty spot because it was feared the shell could explode on its own.
A Royal Navy diver went into the water to recover the shell. It was then taken 300m offshore and detonated.
Published Monday July 12, 2004
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