PORTLAND COASTGUARD MONITORING UNEXPLODED DEVICE

Portland Coastguard were informed on 16 July 2001 by a water borne ice cream truck which normally sells ice cream from the sea that it had managed to pick up a device in Studland Bay, which resembled unexploded ordnance from the Second World War.

The truck brought the item into Poole Harbour where it was guarded on the south side of Brownsea Island. The item was described as about 2.5 feet long; six inches in diameter and has four fins. On the side of the device is a nameplate with GH & Co ltd. 1942 marked on the plates along with a number UD 56.

Sarah Etheridge, Watch Manager at Portland Coastguard said, "There is presently a 300m exclusion zone around the item and it is affecting traffic within the Harbour. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit (EOD) has now arrived from Portsmouth and is being taken to the site in order to deal with the item.