BOMB disposal experts were kept busy after old ordnance was exposed at beaches in the West Wight. 

The Needles Coastguard Rescue Team were tasked yesterday afternoon (Friday) to investigate a report of possible ordnance at Totland Bay, following a call to HM Coastguard from a member of the public.

Once team members arrived on the scene, another seperate report followed of an ordnance discovery at nearby Alum Bay.

As the ordnance at Totland, which was submerged and inaccessible at the time due to the incoming tide, the rescue team switched their attention to Alum Bay, where two items of ordnance where discovered.

Isle of Wight County Press: An item of ordnance found at Totland Bay.An item of ordnance found at Totland Bay.

Isle of Wight County Press: Items or ordnance found at Alum Bay.Items or ordnance found at Alum Bay.

With the incoming tide also covering the Alum Bay items of ordnance, the operation was called off for the day, with a plan to meet the Royal Navy's EOD team today (Saturday) to dispose of the ordnance at low tide.

Upon inspection, the items at Alum Bay were deemed as safe by bomb disposal experts and were subsequently removed from the beach.

Isle of Wight County Press: Royal Navy bomb disposal did a controlled explosion of items found at Alum Bay and Totland Bay.Royal Navy bomb disposal did a controlled explosion of items found at Alum Bay and Totland Bay.

The item found at Totland was destroyed in a controlled explosion at around 4.20pm, once the tide allowed access.

All three pieces were destroyed in the same explosion.

"Ordnance or marine pyrotechnics can be extremely dangerous," said a spokesperson for the team.

Isle of Wight County Press: Needles Coastguard co-ordinated the operation to ensure Alum Bay and Totland Bay were safe for the EOD to dispose of the ordnance washed up there.Needles Coastguard co-ordinated the operation to ensure Alum Bay and Totland Bay were safe for the EOD to dispose of the ordnance washed up there.

"We urge all that discover items that they believe to be such, to leave the items in situ, mark the position with a noticeable marker at the base of the cliff and move away — then dial 999 and ask for the coastguard."