Bomb disposal team detonate WW2 shell

The World War Two shell was found on Tuesday

A bomb disposal team has detonated an unexploded World War Two shell found on a beach.

Essex Police said the device was discovered at about 11:00 GMT on Tuesday in the East End Road area of Bradwell.

It confirmed experts safely dealt with the shell and no explosives were inside.

Ian Cundy, who discovered it whilst walking his dogs, told BBC Essex he "came across the piece of tube, metal, rusty old thing in the mud".

Ian Cundy showed police where the device was

Mr Cundy said at first he thought it was a "bit of scrap" and it was about 1.5m (59inches) long.

"I kicked it a few times and tried to turn it over, and then it suddenly dawned on me - this used to be a bombing range, it might even be a bomb, I'd better get out of here quick.

"This bomb was a good three foot (91cm) under the original mud. Nobody would have seen it for a while."

He went home and called the police and returned with officers to see it detonated.

He saw a "puff of smoke and a bang and that was it", he added.

Police thanked people in the area for their "patience and understanding"

A 1.2 mile (2km) cordon was put place and people were asked to avoid the area.