All-clear over Luce Bay 'weapon'
AN object spotted off Sandhead in Luce Bay was feared to be a weapon, a legacy of the bombing range there.
Coastguards checked it out this morning and found it was non-explosive and posed no threat.
They said: 'Police Scotland were made aware yesterday of a sighting of a suspicious object within Sandhead beach area.
'This morning, a Coastguard rescue team from Portpatrick was sent at 4am to search, locate and identify the object in question.
'Working with the appropriate agencies the object was identified as non-explosive and of no threat to the public.'
It follows a controlled explosion at Portpatrick on Monday after a shell was removed from a scallop dredger in the village harbour.
The area was closed off for several hours as a precaution.
Royal Navy ordnance disposal experts examined the shell and removed it to the Dasher's Den area where a 'small' explosion was used to make the weapon safe.
It is thought the shell may have been part of an estimated million tons of war-surplus ammo dumped off the Rhins coast after the war.
Critics say the ditched ammo in and around Baeufort's Dyke poses a threat to the mooted 'Boris Bridge' from Portpatrick to Ireland.
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Published: 05 May 2020, 15:40