HM Coastguard and the Royal Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team are in attendance at a section of beach in Bembridge following the discovery of an unexploded bomb this afternoon (Sunday).
A 200m cordon has been put in place by members of Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team in preparation for a controlled explosion to be carried out by the specialist Royal Navy team from Portsmouth.
The ordnance is said to be of a considerable size and thought to be a remnant of the Second World War.
Members of the public who have gathered to watch the incident have been asked to relocate to a safe distance.
UPDATE @ 17:44 – The Bomb Disposal team have now carried out a controlled explosion of the ordnance, which has been confirmed to be a 3-inch mortar.
The beach has now re-opened.
I hope this is not near the wreck of the Empress Queen, as the Anchor has just been recovered and a beautiful monument to the wreck has been created which can be seen near the Coast guard station situated on the green there.
It would be a shame if the wreck itself was damaged in anyway as an interesting piece of Bembridge history for us locals here.
Ubend, yes, we walked along the costal path and saw the wonderful anchor and its stunning plinth which it rests upon at the green near the coast guard station. I see there is a photograph on here under the readers photographs this week, so I guess it is new.
Such a huge anchor and apparently the wreck of the ship can still be seen at very low tides in line with the newly sculpted monument if you follow the line of the shaft to the ledge.
I doubt any damage was done, and at least we now have the anchor safe and sound.
And that was the end of the floating bridge.