Oh buoy! Kids played with bomb on beach
They thought it was just a buoy washed up on the beach - but two children ended up playing next to a live Second World War land mine.
Gareth Gravell was with his children Ellis and Erin at the beach in Burry Port, Llanelli, in south west Wales.
Mr Gravell thought the object was a buoy and was more concerned about the crusty barnacles on it as opposed to danger it really posed.
But he explained that had he known what the object really was then he would never have allowed his children to play on it, let alone anywhere near it.
He said: "When we were on the beach we were more concerned with the barnacles on it.
"I did see the chain but I just thought it was a buoy. I saw pictures of it later I thought it couldn't be the same one they were playing with.
"But when I looked at it properly it was. Thankfully they are fine and still here. It is a bit of an experience for them."
The area of Burry Port was cordoned off by police when the old unexploded military mine was discovered by Carmarthenshire Council rangers yesterday.
A disposal team from the Royal Navy bomb disposal unit moved in to make it safe and the public was evacuated to the harbour and coastal path.
Dyfed-Powys Police tweeted: "Burry Port east beach is closed until further notice. This is due to a possibly explosive item washing up there. A cordon is in place. Officers are assisting Coastguard, and will maintain the cordon until Explosive Ordnance Disposal attend and declare the area safe. Please avoid the area until further notice, thanks."
An eye witness described the explosive as 'large with a dome on the top'.
Carmarthenshire Councillor Meryl Gravell, executive board member for leisure, said: "I would like to reassure the public that we have taken the appropriate action, we apologise for any inconvenience whilst the beach is temporarily closed."
Nobody knows how long the land mine had been sitting on the beach.
Crowds turned out in force to see the Second World War mine on the beach.
It is believed the mine originally comes from Mexico.
Dyfed-Powys Police have since tweeted to inform the public that the beach has reopened and the mine has been blown up.
