A BEACH user who picked up a dangerous US Navy flare after discovering it at Bawdsey had a lucky escape when it started smoking in their hand.

Grant Sherlock

A BEACH user who picked up a dangerous US Navy flare after discovering it at Bawdsey had a lucky escape when it started smoking in their hand.

Police and army bomb disposal experts were called to the beach near Bawdsey Manor following the discovery of the 18-inch long flare just before 8pm yesterday.

Inspector Dave Backhouse from Suffolk police said today: “It was reported to us at 7.58pm. Someone found a flare on the beach beside Bawdsey Manor marked with US Navy.

“It was around 1.5feet long and about six inches wide.

“It stated on it 'Do not handle - contains phosphorous. Contact US Navy or police'.

“It was about 200 - 300 yards down the beach from Bawdsey Manor close to Bawdsey pier.

“Apparently someone had picked it up and carried it down the beach but put it down again when it started smoking.

“We sent officers down there. They just kept a watch on it until the army arrived.”

Soon after the army bomb disposal team arrived at the beach and assessed the flare it was detonated.

“They did it there and then,” Inspector Backhouse said.

“They said it could have caused serious injury to anyone handling it.”

The bomb disposal team left the beach at 11.20pm.

It is not yet clear whether the flare was a wartime device which had washed up on the beach or a more modern variety.