Warning after mine lid is found on beach
EMERGENCY CREWS were forced to close off a section of a Yorkshire beach for the third time in three months after a “potentially explosive” device was discovered.
Whitby Coastguard officials rushed to the scene near Sandsend after a member of the public reported seeing the device poking out of the sand.
After establishing a cordon, the crews from Whitby, Staithes and Skinningrove investigated the object and found it to be the lid of a sea mine, which was not dangerous to the public.
A spokesman said: “A small cordon was put in place in line with procedures while Coastguard officers awaited further instructions. The mine lid was cleared for removal from site.
“Thank you to everyone involved. Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard on the coast if you’re in trouble or you see someone else who is.”
The find last week was the third in recent months, with a device also found in August on the stretch of beach near the Pavilion. In July, a section of the beach was cordoned off between Whitby and Sandsend after the top of another sea mine was spotted lying in the sand.
Navy bomb disposal teams attended and concluded that the device was no longer dangerous due to much of the mine corroding away.
Members of the public are reminded to remain vigilant and report any suspicious looking items and not to handle them. The coast of Whitby was a battleground during the First World War, with a number of German Uboats sunk in the North Sea.