Sounds hauntingly reminiscent of World War II rang out on the Nairnshire coastline last night as bomb disposal experts rendered a series of wartime devices safe.
The four examples of ordnance were leftovers from Allied forces’ training on the eve of D-Day in June 1944.
The latest of thousands to be found on Scotland’s shores were dealt with by the Royal Navy’s Northern Diving Group (NDG) who travelled from their base at Faslane on the Clyde.
A vigilant passer-by spotted the munitions which surfaced a mile apart on beaches seven miles east of Nairn on Monday.
A coastguard team kept watch on the dvices, pinpointing their position for the Navy’s bomb disposal team
Former seaman Bill Shand, 92, served on the wartime Arctic Convoys and later at Normandy.
Speaking at his Nairn home last night he praised the bomb disposal experts and offered some advice to anyone finding similarmunitions.
He said: “The majority of these devices become souvenirs and, regrettably, people often don’t check first if they’re live or inert.”
“My thoughts at this time are of the fear, the terror and the damage that these things can cause if people are ignorant of their danger.”
The NDG deals with an average of 70 such call-outs in the north of Scotland each year.
Group member Timothy Castrinoyannakis said: “All items ordnance, no matter the age or degradation, demand respect and technical skill.
“A walker once found a three-inch projectile on his local seafront, liked the look of it, picked it up and took it home as a garden ornament.
“By the time he reached his house, commonsense kicked in. He realised it was a bad idea and called the police.
“We had to evacuate the neighbours in a 200-yards vicinity until we were able to safely remove the item and relocate to the beach and dispose of it safely.”
Offering some reassurance, he added: “I believe our beaches to be very safe.
“I haven’t come across any incident involving any damage or injury to the public. Our emergency response teams – police and coastguard – have always been extremely professional and effective in ensuring public safety.”
Anyone spotting such suspect devices should “avoid interaction” and call their local coastguard or police station.
