The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Bomb squad called to beach after suspect item found.
Public cleared from sands at beauty spot after mortar shell found
A popular north-east Fife beach was evacuated after a member of the public discovered a suspected mortar shell.
Police and firefighters raced to the beach at Tentsmuir, near Tayport, shortly after 10.30am yesterday following reports of a suspicious item in the area.
Members of the public who had been enjoying the warm sunshine at the busy beauty spot were ushered away from the sands and told to keep back.
A police officer stood guard close to the entrance while the drama unfolded.
Officers from an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team were alerted and sent to the scene where a sizeable cordon was put in place, which remained for the majority of the day.
One beach-goer said: “We had just arrived, close to lunch time, when we were told to turn back and keep a distance.
“Police didn’t say why we had to go, but some people said it might be a suspicious package.”
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Police in Fife were in attendance at the Tentsmuir Forest area of Tayport following a report that a suspected mortar shell was found by a member of the public.
“Specialist personnel including the EOD have been alerted and a cordon is currently in place. The public are asked to avoid the area and are thanked for their patience at this time.”
The bomb disposal squad arrived on scene shortly after 4pm and carried out a controlled detonation soon after.
Several mortar bombs and shells have been found at the beach over the last few years. The nature reserve was used as a practice range during the Second World War. Wind and tides often expose a variety of metal items left behind from these years but they are usually harmless.
Members of the public have been urged to contact the authorities if they come across any item which could possibly be a wartime shell and are asked to stay away from it as a precaution.