UPDATED: Coastguard rescue teams were called this morning (Friday) to reports that a piece of ordnance, believed to be a hand grenade, had washed up on a beach on the South Coast of the Island.
Island Echo received reports at 11:57 of the Coastguard Rescue 4×4 heading towards the Freshwater Bay area on a blue light run.
A stretch of Compton Bay beach was cordoned off after a walker found an object that appeared to be a hand grenade shortly after 11:30. Coastguard Rescue teams made the scene safe before calling in the specialist assistance of the Royal Navy Bomb Disposal squad.
The navy experts from Portsmouth attended the scene, however it was discovered that the item was a plastic imitation and did not require a controlled explosion.
Photograph of the Royal Navy Bomb Disposal squad heading to Compton by Island Echo photographer Shane Thornton
