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Landslide uncovers 1,000 deadly WW2 bombs and rockets
A holiday beach was cordoned off after a landslip sent more than 1,000 deadly bombs and rockets embedded in the cliffs for more 60 years tumbling onto the sands.
Image 1 of 2
The cliffs are an old firing range from World War Two, explosives and grenades can be found in the area
Image 2 of 2
Clay cliffs on the Holderness coast, Mappleton, Yorkshire
The East Riding beach of Mappleton, near Hornsea, was used as a practice bombing range during the Second World War - but the bad weather has led to ground movement which exposed one of the biggest arsenals ever uncovered yesterday.
The fins of many of the bombs have been left sticking out of the mud and rock which has fallen onto the beach.
With holiday crowds flooding to the coast, coastguards are warning visitors thinking of grabbing a souvenir that the bombs may be "highly volatile" and capable of causing tragedy.
Coastguards say the odd item of explosives often turn up in dribs and drabs after being embedded in the cliffs for decades in the area.
But over the weekend, a landslip caused by the combination of heavy rain and coastal erosion exposed at least 1,000 weapons.
Coastguards say that most of them are probably dummy or practice rounds - but they still contain enough explosive to cause terrible injuries.
A 24-hour guard has been placed on the beach by Humberside Police amid fears that children may be tempted to pick up a "trophy" during the school holidays.
An Army Bomb Disposal team from North Yorkshire's Catterick Army Base has also been called in to clear the beach over the next few days.
The Army experts are hoping to remove some of the smaller items but some will have to be blown up on site in controlled explosions, Humber Coastguard said.
They include rockets, mortar bombs and 25-pounder bombs which were all fired into the cliffs by RAF aircraft during the war years and have been there ever since.
Mike Puplett, watch manager at Humber Coastguard, said: "It's an old firing range from World War Two and an area where we do get explosives and grenades.
"When the cliff sinks it is a fairly regular occurrence that we get one or two. But there has been a fairly significant landslide occurred due to the erosion and bad weather which has caused it to slip.
"It is a conservative estimate of more than 1,000 items, a mixture of explosives. It is going to take two to three days if not longer to transport the less harmful explosives out of the way while those which are more dangerous or live are detonated in controlled explosions."
There was no evacuation of the beach which was empty at the time of the landslip, he said, adding that the Coastguard were notified at 1.30pm on Sunday.
The beach can be approached along the sands from Hornsea or down a cliff top path but both points of access have been cordoned off and are under 24-hour police guard.
"The explosives have been fired into the cliff for target practice during bombing runs in World War Two," Mr Puplett continued.
"Most are practice rounds but the Army have advised us that the amount of explosives even in Low Explosive rounds make them highly dangerous to handle.
"Because they have been in the cliff so long they may have become volatile and dangerous after being exposed to the fresh air.
"They have actually fallen in the landslip down onto the beach and are sticking out of the mud and rock and sand.
"Because there is such a great number of them what we do not want is people wandering around picking up the odd trophy to put on the mantel piece.
"They are all highly dangerous and should not be touched at all. It is highly dangerous at the moment. I am no explosive expert but the Army have told me these things could cause serious injury if not worse and even Low Explosive rounds are dangerous.
"Even the dummy or practice rounds have some explosives in them. Anyone who finds anything like this should dial 999."
Article from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/...covers-1000-deadly-WW2-bombs-and-rockets.html
A holiday beach was cordoned off after a landslip sent more than 1,000 deadly bombs and rockets embedded in the cliffs for more 60 years tumbling onto the sands.
Image 1 of 2
The cliffs are an old firing range from World War Two, explosives and grenades can be found in the area
Image 2 of 2
Clay cliffs on the Holderness coast, Mappleton, Yorkshire
The East Riding beach of Mappleton, near Hornsea, was used as a practice bombing range during the Second World War - but the bad weather has led to ground movement which exposed one of the biggest arsenals ever uncovered yesterday.
The fins of many of the bombs have been left sticking out of the mud and rock which has fallen onto the beach.
With holiday crowds flooding to the coast, coastguards are warning visitors thinking of grabbing a souvenir that the bombs may be "highly volatile" and capable of causing tragedy.
Coastguards say the odd item of explosives often turn up in dribs and drabs after being embedded in the cliffs for decades in the area.
But over the weekend, a landslip caused by the combination of heavy rain and coastal erosion exposed at least 1,000 weapons.
Coastguards say that most of them are probably dummy or practice rounds - but they still contain enough explosive to cause terrible injuries.
A 24-hour guard has been placed on the beach by Humberside Police amid fears that children may be tempted to pick up a "trophy" during the school holidays.
An Army Bomb Disposal team from North Yorkshire's Catterick Army Base has also been called in to clear the beach over the next few days.
The Army experts are hoping to remove some of the smaller items but some will have to be blown up on site in controlled explosions, Humber Coastguard said.
They include rockets, mortar bombs and 25-pounder bombs which were all fired into the cliffs by RAF aircraft during the war years and have been there ever since.
Mike Puplett, watch manager at Humber Coastguard, said: "It's an old firing range from World War Two and an area where we do get explosives and grenades.
"When the cliff sinks it is a fairly regular occurrence that we get one or two. But there has been a fairly significant landslide occurred due to the erosion and bad weather which has caused it to slip.
"It is a conservative estimate of more than 1,000 items, a mixture of explosives. It is going to take two to three days if not longer to transport the less harmful explosives out of the way while those which are more dangerous or live are detonated in controlled explosions."
There was no evacuation of the beach which was empty at the time of the landslip, he said, adding that the Coastguard were notified at 1.30pm on Sunday.
The beach can be approached along the sands from Hornsea or down a cliff top path but both points of access have been cordoned off and are under 24-hour police guard.
"The explosives have been fired into the cliff for target practice during bombing runs in World War Two," Mr Puplett continued.
"Most are practice rounds but the Army have advised us that the amount of explosives even in Low Explosive rounds make them highly dangerous to handle.
"Because they have been in the cliff so long they may have become volatile and dangerous after being exposed to the fresh air.
"They have actually fallen in the landslip down onto the beach and are sticking out of the mud and rock and sand.
"Because there is such a great number of them what we do not want is people wandering around picking up the odd trophy to put on the mantel piece.
"They are all highly dangerous and should not be touched at all. It is highly dangerous at the moment. I am no explosive expert but the Army have told me these things could cause serious injury if not worse and even Low Explosive rounds are dangerous.
"Even the dummy or practice rounds have some explosives in them. Anyone who finds anything like this should dial 999."
Article from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/...covers-1000-deadly-WW2-bombs-and-rockets.html
