Police have warned of the chances of coming across ordnance on South Hams beaches after a big storm.

A spokesman said: ‘After a decent storm we often get reports of ordnance being found on beaches, particularly Torcross, after the wind and sea unearth it from its resting place’.

Ordnance is explosive weapons – bombs, shells, grenades, land mines, naval mines, cluster munitions, etc – that did not explode when they were employed and still pose a risk of detonation, potentially many decades after they were used or discarded.

Recently, we have heard reports of an aircraft rocket near Slapton Sands last February, and an unexploded bomb was found at Strete Gate Beach the year before.

The police advice is ‘if you see anything on the beach, or anywhere else, which you belive may be ordnance then please call 999 and inform the Police or the Coastguard. Do not touch it. Do not put it in your car boot and drive it to us at the police station.

‘Just leave it where it is and call 999.’