Charity shop staff were left stunned after a high-explosive mortar was handed in as a donation – before Navy bomb disposal experts had to blow it up on a beach.
Royal Navy bomb disposal specialists were called to a British Heart Foundation shop after the suspected ordnance was discovered among donated items.
Specialist Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) operators from Bravo Squadron scrambled to the shop in Paignton, Devon, to assess the mystery item.
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They confirmed it was a British 3-inch high-explosive mortar.
The team deemed it safe to move before transporting it to nearby Goodrington Beach, as reported by Need To Know.
There, the potentially deadly relic was destroyed in a controlled explosion.
Lieutenant Matt Bowden, Officer in Charge of Bravo Unit One, said: “The Royal Navy Bomb Disposal team from HMNB Devonport was called to investigate suspected ordnance discovered in Paignton today.
“Once my team had assessed it as safe to move, we transported it to Goodrington Beach, where it was safely destroyed in a controlled explosion.
“Incidents like this highlight the importance of contacting the authorities if you discover any suspected military ordnance and not attempting to handle it yourself.”
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson said officers were called shortly after 9am on Wednesday 7 October after the mortar round was discovered among collections at the charity shop.
They said: “The Royal Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team attended and took the round to Goodrington Beach where it was made safe.”
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