The Coastguard has issued a stern warning to locals and visitors alike to steer clear of a hazardous aircraft wreckage that has emerged on Cleethorpes beach. The debris, which is the remnants of a Bristol Beaufighter that tragically crashed in 1944, is described as ‘extraordinarily unstable’, potentially housing a significant quantity of ‘live’ 20/30mm cannon rounds. The Cleethorpes Coastguard urged the public, ‘Avoid touching the ammunition and certainly don’t remove it from the beach, as it could detonate.’ The wreckage, which has been exposed repeatedly over the years, has had much of its ammunition successfully neutralised by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams. However, recent weather conditions, including tides, wind, and currents, have exposed the wreckage more than usual. The public has been advised to report any suspicious findings to the Coastguard by dialling 999 and to refrain from searching for the wreckage, as the path leading to it is treacherous, with large areas of potentially hazardous mud.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
