Ammunition from WW2 aircraft wreckage destroyed

A Royal Navy bomb disposal team has destroyed hundreds of rounds of ammunition which was unearthed in the wreckage of a World War Two aircraft on a beach.

The wreckage, on Cleethorpes beach in Lincolnshire, is from a RAF Bristol Beaufighter which crashed in 1944.

It has been uncovered a number of times over the years, but Cleethorpes Coastguard said more of it than usual had been exposed during the latest incident at the weekend, due to strong currents and wind.

In an update on Thursday, the Coastguard said more than 400 rounds had been destroyed as part of a four-day operation to make the site as safe as possible.

"It is still unknown what was actually carried on the aircraft, and there are no guarantees that there is no more left at the location," a spokesperson said.

"It is not safe to try and excavate to look for more munitions, and therefore remains extremely dangerous if tampered with."

Despite previous safety advice about the risks posed by the live ammunition, as well as the risk of getting stuck in mud, the Coastguard said people were still trying to get to the crash site, the route to which has been described as "extremely dangerous".

There was also a risk of people being washed away while trying to cross any of the large creeks located in the area.

"This not only puts your life at risk, but also those who get called out to rescue you," the spokesperson added.

People have also been asked not to put others at risk by disclosing the location of the wreckage on social media.

According to the Bomber County Aviation Resource website, the aircraft from 254 Squadron suffered an engine failure on a training flight and was forced to crash-land on the beach after taking off from nearby North Coates in Lincolnshire.

Both crew members survived the accident without any injuries.

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