A coastguard team in North Cornwall has put out a warning regarding military flares on Cornish beaches.
The Bude Coastguard Rescue Team sent out the warning on Tuesday (Aug 10) after it was called to and dealt with two separate incidents in 24 hours involving military-grade flares.
One of the flares found was marked with 'US Navy' and such equipment is usually used for search and rescue operations or to cordon off areas.
The warning, which was posted to the Bude Coastguard Rescue Team's social media page, said: "Bude Coastguard Rescue Team were paged for a second time today at 16:49 and once again tasked to investigate a report from Sandymouth Lifeguards of a second phosphorous submarine flare that had been washed up onto the beach and discovered by a member of the public who subsequently handed it to the lifeguards.
"Understanding the serious danger posed by the object, the lifeguards placed the flare by the cliff face nearby and created a safety cordon.
"Once the Rescue Team were on scene, images were again passed to Falmouth who in turn passed them to the Royal Navy's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, who immediately diverted from another less critical tasking in order to attend to the phosphorous flare at Sandymouth.
"Once on scene, and with the beach cleared and a perimeter secured by members of the Rescue Team, the Royal Navy successfully detonated the device.
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"Once given the all clear, the beach was immediately re-opened.
"Please note, this was the second of two reports and subsequent controlled explosions of phosphorous submarine flares that have been discovered in the Bude area within 24 hours.
"A safety message will follow, please check our page for details.
"If you see any object on the beach which you believe might be a discarded marine flare or some form of pyrotechnic device or ordnance, please DO NOT touch it or attempt to move it - please note its position, and dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard."
The coastguard team followed up the initial warning with instructions for the public on what to do if they were to come across suspected pyrotechnic devices, saying: "If you see any type of discarded flare or possible pyrotechnic device on the beach or in the sea, please attempt to note its position, and then dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard, or notify the beach lifeguards.
"DO NOT touch or attempt to move the device yourself.
"Please keep any children at a safe distance from the device and keep your dogs on a lead.
"Please warn anyone in the immediate vicinity of the device to move away to a safe distance."
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