Bomb found on Bournemouth beach

DRAMA: Police on the East Cliff last night. Picture: Corin Messer DRAMA: Police on the East Cliff last night. Picture: Corin Messer

THE bomb disposal squad was called out to Bournemouth beach last night after an unexploded Second World War shell was found.

Police erected a 400m cordon between East Overcliff Drive and Manor Road and evacuated the immediate area.

Hundreds of people were in the vicinity after watching the night flight displays at Bournemouth Air Festival .

The drama did not affect the displays nor the night-time concert.

A controlled explosion was carried out late last night and the cordon lifted.

Mark Smith, Director of Bournemouth Tourism , said last night: “Emergency services have done a fantastic job dealing with a suspected World War Two shell found on Bournemouth beach.

“The public have been extremely co-operative in clearing the area to allow the emergency services to do their job.

“We hope to see everyone back at the Air Festival on Saturday.”

Sarah Allen from Wimborne was on the beach with friends and her children when they were told it was being evacuated.

“The first firework went off and then there was a bang. Then there was a second bang.

“The beach staff were really hassled getting us off the beach.

“When the bangs went off we jumped out of our skin.”

A local 26-year-old unemployed man armed with a metal detector found the shell.

The man, who did not wish to be named, said: “I was walking along the beach and the reading on my equipment went sky high. I started digging and in the end I was using a metal spade and it bent the tip.

“I then realised what it was and said to my mum ‘If I were you, I would step back as I think I have found a bomb.’ I then told some police officers.”

He added: “My mum said it was about time that I found something big.”

Comments(41)

bigjohn says...
11:57pm Fri 31 Aug 12

Maybe, one of the WW2 planes had some bombs remaining and decided to leave on the beach, he he!

glendower2909 says...
12:18am Sat 1 Sep 12

More likely the council did not want the people on the front while they cleaned up.....

twynhamob says...
12:58am Sat 1 Sep 12

bigjohn you are right about a leftover bomb, he heard that AFCB's heroic Mitchell family were on the beach

billd766 says...
1:56am Sat 1 Sep 12

The headline says bomb and the story says shell.

Could somebody please explain to them the difference between a bomb and a shell.
Shells are fired by artillery weapons and bombs are dropped by and aeroplane. The only one that is different is a mortar "bomb" which is fired up a mortar tube and lands vertically like a bomb.

tricky1007 says...
3:11am Sat 1 Sep 12

billd766 wrote:
The headline says bomb and the story says shell.

Could somebody please explain to them the difference between a bomb and a shell.
Shells are fired by artillery weapons and bombs are dropped by and aeroplane. The only one that is different is a mortar "bomb" which is fired up a mortar tube and lands vertically like a bomb.
who cares!!!!

The Timelord says...
4:58am Sat 1 Sep 12

The airshow organisers and John Weaver of Bournemouth Council always wanted the show to go with a bang - this could've been it!
Shame our local constabulary spoilt their plan....

jbland says...
6:19am Sat 1 Sep 12

pity it wasnt under the surf reef or the imax ,could have saved some money

MJD says...
6:44am Sat 1 Sep 12

Wouldn't have thought it was a bomb if they did a controlled explosion. Have you ever seen a hole that is left after a 100lbs bomb has been blown with a controlled explosion. I have.

davecook says...
7:04am Sat 1 Sep 12

Shame they couldn't have blown it up to coincide with the Tornado display, or the fireworks.........

xclairebear87 says...
7:50am Sat 1 Sep 12

i'm guessing there was a controlled explosion. about 10 mins or so after the fireworks ended, we stayed on the beach to let the crowds die down, and heard a huge bang which sounded like a cannon. we had no idea where it had come from, now i realise it must have been this!

Lord Spring says...
8:06am Sat 1 Sep 12

billd766 wrote:
The headline says bomb and the story says shell.

Could somebody please explain to them the difference between a bomb and a shell.
Shells are fired by artillery weapons and bombs are dropped by and aeroplane. The only one that is different is a mortar "bomb" which is fired up a mortar tube and lands vertically like a bomb.
As explained by a man of true calibre.

Mike Oxbig says...
8:23am Sat 1 Sep 12

tricky1007 wrote:
billd766 wrote:
The headline says bomb and the story says shell.

Could somebody please explain to them the difference between a bomb and a shell.
Shells are fired by artillery weapons and bombs are dropped by and aeroplane. The only one that is different is a mortar "bomb" which is fired up a mortar tube and lands vertically like a bomb.
who cares!!!!
haha!! Well said!

Mike Oxbig says...
8:24am Sat 1 Sep 12

MJD wrote:
Wouldn't have thought it was a bomb if they did a controlled explosion. Have you ever seen a hole that is left after a 100lbs bomb has been blown with a controlled explosion. I have.
Show off.

manyogie says...
8:46am Sat 1 Sep 12

billd766 wrote:
The headline says bomb and the story says shell.

Could somebody please explain to them the difference between a bomb and a shell.
Shells are fired by artillery weapons and bombs are dropped by and aeroplane. The only one that is different is a mortar "bomb" which is fired up a mortar tube and lands vertically like a bomb.
Ah, but there is the type that is domed shape, usually lined with lady fingers, er no, sorry thats a bombe!

ang17080 says...
8:47am Sat 1 Sep 12

The way the staff dealt with the incident was brilliant, no panic, great organisation,well done. The evening was still a success considering quite a huge blow!!!!!

Dixi says...
9:17am Sat 1 Sep 12

ang17080 wrote:
The way the staff dealt with the incident was brilliant, no panic, great organisation,well done. The evening was still a success considering quite a huge blow!!!!!
absolutely agree. A wonderful time was had by all. Lovely atmosphere and continental feel around Boscombe Pier. The live music and restaurant on the beach was a great idea.
Just wondering whether the 'bomb' was dredged from Poole harbour along with the sand brought up to bring up the level of the beaches.

Old Colonial says...
9:20am Sat 1 Sep 12

tricky1007 wrote:
billd766 wrote:
The headline says bomb and the story says shell.

Could somebody please explain to them the difference between a bomb and a shell.
Shells are fired by artillery weapons and bombs are dropped by and aeroplane. The only one that is different is a mortar "bomb" which is fired up a mortar tube and lands vertically like a bomb.
who cares!!!!
Somebody has to do the editor's job!

contric says...
9:33am Sat 1 Sep 12

probably dropped by the luftwaffe when they bombed corfe castle

pete woodley says...
9:45am Sat 1 Sep 12

No i was not on the beach,so hard luck to those in the hate pete woodley campaign,must have been left by Steve morgan,or oversixty,

Dixi says...
9:49am Sat 1 Sep 12

contric wrote:
probably dropped by the luftwaffe when they bombed corfe castle
tsk...that wicked Herr Cromwell again

BIGTONE says...
10:18am Sat 1 Sep 12

We see controlled explosions on a daily basis at BBC!

bourne free says...
11:03am Sat 1 Sep 12

xclairebear87 wrote:
i'm guessing there was a controlled explosion. about 10 mins or so after the fireworks ended, we stayed on the beach to let the crowds die down, and heard a huge bang which sounded like a cannon. we had no idea where it had come from, now i realise it must have been this!
yeh we herd the same and thought the fireworks had started again ?

penhale says...
11:14am Sat 1 Sep 12

BIGTONE wrote:
We see controlled explosions on a daily basis at BBC!
So do I after a Friday night out.

pugs0404 says...
11:19am Sat 1 Sep 12

ha ha you missed boscombe, rember when you see the surf its straight on from there.......

Tom 'Boscombe' Jones says...
12:54pm Sat 1 Sep 12

I nearly died last night when I took a stroll down to the sea front to take a look see. Not from the unexploded bomb but by the bomb disposal squad van hurtling down sea road at stupid miles per hour. Just a suggestion, when you are in a rush and there are tons of people around, try using your siren as well as your lights, I had my back to you!!

Tom 'Boscombe' Jones says...
12:56pm Sat 1 Sep 12

I hope everyone is enjoying the air show and has completely forgotten about Mouchel :)

funkyferret says...
1:01pm Sat 1 Sep 12

So a major event occurs when someone finds a shell on a beach?
Kinda remember decorating sandcastles with loads of them when I was younger ..

itsallgammon says...
3:24pm Sat 1 Sep 12

billd766 wrote:
The headline says bomb and the story says shell.

Could somebody please explain to them the difference between a bomb and a shell.
Shells are fired by artillery weapons and bombs are dropped by and aeroplane. The only one that is different is a mortar "bomb" which is fired up a mortar tube and lands vertically like a bomb.
If the headline read "Shell Found On Beach" rather than "Bomb Found On Beach", I suspect that it would have drawn derisory comments. "We've all found shells on the beach etc"
Whilst we have come to expect a certain lack of journalistic rigour from the ECHO - that would have been a step too far , even for them.
At least the headline did it's job and caught my attention so I read the story!

buickboy says...
5:03pm Sat 1 Sep 12

pete woodley wrote:
No i was not on the beach,so hard luck to those in the hate pete woodley campaign,must have been left by Steve morgan,or oversixty,
Steady on old chap, no need for that !! (Ha ha)
I don't hate you, disagree with you from time to time that's all. in fact my last couple of posts have been in support of yours! Chin Chin ! (S.Morgan)

Hobad1 says...
10:34pm Sat 1 Sep 12

pete woodley wrote:
No i was not on the beach,so hard luck to those in the hate pete woodley campaign,must have been left by Steve morgan,or oversixty,
I didn't realise there was a `hate pete woodley campaign'. How do i join ???

pete woodley says...
10:37pm Sat 1 Sep 12

HOBAD1,i have already made you a member.any foul mouths get full membership.

HRH of Boscombe says...
12:24am Sun 2 Sep 12

Old Colonial wrote:
tricky1007 wrote:
billd766 wrote:
The headline says bomb and the story says shell.

Could somebody please explain to them the difference between a bomb and a shell.
Shells are fired by artillery weapons and bombs are dropped by and aeroplane. The only one that is different is a mortar "bomb" which is fired up a mortar tube and lands vertically like a bomb.
who cares!!!!
Somebody has to do the editor's job!
I think it's a good point.
.
If you don't care why have you bothered to comment?
.
Life really that slow for you lol??

billd766 says...
1:27am Sun 2 Sep 12

HRH of Boscombe wrote:
Old Colonial wrote:
tricky1007 wrote:
billd766 wrote:
The headline says bomb and the story says shell.

Could somebody please explain to them the difference between a bomb and a shell.
Shells are fired by artillery weapons and bombs are dropped by and aeroplane. The only one that is different is a mortar "bomb" which is fired up a mortar tube and lands vertically like a bomb.
who cares!!!!
Somebody has to do the editor's job!
I think it's a good point.
.
If you don't care why have you bothered to comment?
.
Life really that slow for you lol??
The reporters of the paper are paid to do a proper job which at times involves researching the subject you are PAID to write about. If you don't, can't be bothered or just not interested then chuck the job in. I am sure that there are plenty more people out there who would love a job.

jessicasmama says...
9:18am Sun 2 Sep 12

"The first firework went off and then there was a bang. Then there was a second bang."

Well, yes, they were the second & third fireworks! The only audible bang was around 10 minutes after the fireworks finished. I'm not surprised that the staff were slightly hassling people to get off the beach, as there were still people dawdling when they had to detonate. The emergency services & Airshow stewards did an amazing job & even tried to claim the late detonation was a stray firework to stop people worrying!

AdamSFC says...
11:23am Sun 2 Sep 12

MJD wrote:
Wouldn't have thought it was a bomb if they did a controlled explosion. Have you ever seen a hole that is left after a 100lbs bomb has been blown with a controlled explosion. I have.
At no point in the article does it say anything whatsoever about the weight.

oxoncherry2 says...
8:04pm Sun 2 Sep 12

Mike Oxbig wrote:
tricky1007 wrote:
billd766 wrote:
The headline says bomb and the story says shell.

Could somebody please explain to them the difference between a bomb and a shell.
Shells are fired by artillery weapons and bombs are dropped by and aeroplane. The only one that is different is a mortar "bomb" which is fired up a mortar tube and lands vertically like a bomb.
who cares!!!!
haha!! Well said!
It was probably a bullet.

Finbarr Finkelstein says...
1:23pm Mon 3 Sep 12

What sort of Bomb? The exploding kind you fool.

Good old pink panther

stevobath says...
1:26pm Mon 3 Sep 12

Surely it would be a 'BUM' if it was found in Boscombe area?

nonnisrevenge says...
5:22pm Mon 3 Sep 12

Mike Oxbig wrote:
tricky1007 wrote:
billd766 wrote: The headline says bomb and the story says shell. Could somebody please explain to them the difference between a bomb and a shell. Shells are fired by artillery weapons and bombs are dropped by and aeroplane. The only one that is different is a mortar "bomb" which is fired up a mortar tube and lands vertically like a bomb.
who cares!!!!
haha!! Well said!
For one the people who are charged with either dismantling it or making it safe.

There really is nothing wrong with enlightening people with the facts.

JamesBond0070 says...
8:53pm Mon 3 Sep 12

Regardless whether it was a bomb or a shell, it was a good job it was found and exploded, before it could have harmed or killed somebody. And it has to be remembered that this one is certainly not going to be the last to be found. Hopefully the one's yet to be discovered are all rendered harmless on finding, without injury to anyone.

praelis says...
8:36am Wed 5 Sep 12

At least they didnt go and explode it on the underwater shelf out to sea where the vibrations can be felt in southbourne.

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