Bombs and ordnance found on Chalkwell beach, Westcliff

Southend Coastguard were tasked back to further ordnance off of the Ray opposite Chalkwell which had been located on Saturday.

The Army EOD were not able to investigate the item on Saturday when they took away the other items of ordnance, as this item was covered by the incoming tide, so the coastguard arranged to meet again early Sunday morning.

A spokesman said: "Southend Coastguard sent the same 3 Coastguard Officers out to the location of the ordnance to relocate from Saturday and quickly confirmed it was still in situ as the Army EOD team arrived.

"Upon examination the item was confirmed as an armour piercing shell (with tracer powered still in tact), it was cleaned up and the tracer powder was cleaned out to make safe.

"As the Army EOD dealt with this item, further items of ordnance had been spotted in the distance by a local bait digger. One of our Coastguard Officers proceeded to their locations to inspect the items, take pictures and call over the Army EOD team to further investigate.

"The EOD team confirmed that most of the items were spent Incendiary bombs used extensively in World War II, dropped often in a conjunction with high-explosive bombs.

"An explosive charge would then ignite the incendiary material, often starting a raging fire. Normally the tail fins would burn away but we found a number of items with tail fins still in tact.

"These pose ’no danger’ as had exploded and ignited on hitting the ground/water of the Estuary.

"In total our Coastguard Officers and Army EOD covered some 5km out on the mud flats investigating various types of ordnance today and brought back to shore to be taken away to Colchester Barracks for destruction. End to end the team spent some 4hrs on this incident alone.

"Whilst out near 'Seal Point' in the Ray, approx 4 seals came swimming over to our team as were curious what we were doing and one followed us up and down whilst keeping 2+m social distance."