More bombs found on Lihou
TWO items of Second World War ordnance have been discovered around Lihou Island in the space of a week, bringing the total number of unexploded shells found so far this year to seven.
Both of the recent finds were artillery shells which, said island warden Steve Sarre, were believed to have been fired from
the former ranging station on the nearby headland.
It was on Monday that a group of people staying on the island were taking part in a scavenger hunt around the coast and found a shell in a rock pool in front of the main house.
Then, on Thursday, Mr Sarre was on the other side of the island showing a group the best places for rock jumping and he saw a shell on a rock. ‘I think someone must have put it there,’ he said.
After contacting the police on both occasions, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team destroyed the shells in controlled explosions at Lisseroy, part of the island.
Mr Sarre said he was surprised that so many shells had been found this year and suspected there could be more around the shoreline. ‘I think it was about 12 years ago that the Army cleared the whole island and they found about 210 pieces of unexploded ordnance, but they never cleared all of the foreshore.’
Part of the problem with the foreshore is the shingle bank, which constantly shifts and makes things harder to find.
