Bomb alert as shells washed up

The shells were detonated in a controlled explosion

Three unexploded shells thought to date back to World War II were washed up on a south Wales beach.

They were found a mile out from Weobley Castle in Llanrhidian, on the Gower peninsular, as the tide was at its lowest point.

The phosphorous shells had started smoking and a bomb disposal team had to carry out a controlled explosion.

Coastguards at Swansea said the unexploded shells were often found in the area because it was once used as a military range.

"I think that they must have buried a lot of these shells down there at one point during the war," said a coastguard spokesman.

"What happens is at low tide, they keep getting washed up and uncovered.

"It is quite a regular thing for us to be called down there with reports of shells being found.

"During the summer we could get two or three call-outs there," he said.

A bomb disposal team from Cirencester was called to carry out a controlled explosion on the shells.