Brighton beach evacuated as bomb squad blow up 'World War 2 shell' near pier

01 January 2023 , 16:29

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Members of the public watch as police evacuate a part of Brighton beach (Image: Alamy Live News.)

A beach was evacuated today as people were walking the coastline to see in the New Year after a bomb washed up.

The World War Two shell was spotted on the pebbles at Brighton beach in East Sussex close to the Palace Pier.

The crowds were moved back but stayed to watch as officers from the Army's bomb disposal unit were called in to detonate the device.

Sussex Police said: "Police are assisting the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team after suspected ordnance was found at Brighton beach today.

Royal Navy Bomb Disposal team collect sand from Brighton beach (Alamy Live News.)

"We were called at about 10.30am and have set up a cordon as a precaution in Madeira Drive.

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"Officers have thanked the public for their patience while this matter is resolved.

Police evacuate a part of Brighton beach (Alamy Live News.)

Video footage recorded by a member of the public showed the blast taking place on an empty stretch of beach.

The crowd cheered as the device exploded pushing the beach's famous pebbles in the air.

Officers were called to the beach (Alamy Live News.)

Meanwhile in Yorkshire, bomb disposal experts are one year into a four year project to remove unexploded devices from a beach popular with dog walkers.

The white sands of Mappleton Beach, in Holderness, East Yorks, are littered with buried ordnance dropped over 39 years when RAF Cowden operated a 600-acre firing range for Cold War practice.

The facility was used from 1959 to 1998 for high-octane dummy missions, including air to ground bombing runs.

The shell was blown up (Alamy Live News.)

But major coastal erosion has left unexploded shells and missiles on the beach. Previously they were buried in cliffs.

A £1.5million clean-up operation has been launched to make the area permanently safe.

The beach remains open to the public but red flags will alert walkers when sections are closed for removals or detonations.

Kelly-Ann Mills