'Controlled detonation' - Photos show bomb squad at West Sussex beach as police and Coastguard join emergency response

Photos from the scene – taken on Thursday afternoon (March 12) – showed a Royal Navy Bomb Disposal van, alongside police and Coastguard vehicles.

Subsequent pictures showed the scale of the emergency response, with experts assessing ‘suspected munition’.

A spokesperson for Sussex Police explained: “Police received a report about a suspected munition found at Medmerry Beach off Drove Lane, Chichester, at 10.53am.

“Officers are supporting the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, and a temporary cordon is in place.

“The EOD team is assessing items believed to be smoke signals and small munition fragments.”

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency also issued a statement, which said: “At around 12.25pm today, Selsey and Littlehampton Coastguard Rescue Teams were sent to reports of suspected ordnance at Medmerry beach, Selsey.

“A safety cordon was raised around the site while an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team performed a controlled detonation in situ. Sussex Police was also informed.”

It has been reported that the unexploded bomb weighed 250 pounds.

A controlled explosion was carried out, with loud bangs heard in the area

Explaining how the incident unfolded, the Selsey Coastguard Rescue Team revealed the first call-out came at 12.30pm on Wednesday.

The team had been ‘paged to reports of possible ordnance’ found on Medmerry Beach.

“On arrival the reported ordnance was located and photos were taken and sent to EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team),” a Facebook post read.

“A cordon was put in place and the beach was closed.

"At 3pm the ordnance had been covered by the incoming tide and the team were stood down to be retasked the following day.”

The team returned to the beach the next morning. A cordon was put in place and the beach was closed again at Medmerry.

The Coastguard added: “EOD arrived on scene a little later and due to the size of the ordnace there was a possibility that a cordon of 1km was going to be needed, with this information we requested the support of Sussex Police and Littlehampton Coastguard Rescue Team to support us.

“At around 15.30 two successfully controlled explosions were carried out and were heard as far as Middleton-On-Sea (17 miles away).”

The team was stood down at 4.30pm.

Issuing safety advice, the Coastguard added: “Ordnance comes in all different shapes and sizes. Do not touch or move possible ordnance.

“Ordnance can still be highly explosive and ordnance found on this beach has still been found to be highly explosive too.

“Medmerry Beach is closed to the public due to several dangers including ordnance.

“If you come across possible ordnance on the beach do not touch it and call the Coastguard straight away.

“In an emergency out at sea, on the beach or along the coast dial and ask for the Coastguard.”