Depth charge is detonated

CONCERNS that explosives attached to a depth charge 20 metres below the water would disconnect due to rough seabed conditions led authorities to act swiftly and detonate it earlier than expected.

The Royal Navy Southern Diving Unit One confirmed yesterday morning that the suspect device found near the ammunition wreck was a German Mark 1 depth charge.

The five-man team managed to extract the item around 10am after it had become wedged between sand and gravel and part of the shipwreck that had given way.

It was due to be detonated at the northern tip of the Great Bank around 2pm but instead was destroyed just before 12.30pm.

'When the depth charge was lowered to the sea bed there was a concern that the explosives could become detached because of the conditions of the sea bed so we had to bring it forward,' Guernsey Police inspector Terry Coule said.