Published: April 11, 2008
Exclusive: First picture of the WW2 bomb on Stert Island

This photo shows the 700kg German World War II bomb that caused a major alert in Burnham-On-Sea on Thursday (April 10th).

A Royal Navy bomb disposal team from Plymouth is due to safely detonate the object on Stert Island later today (Friday) after it was reported to Bridgwater Bay's Harbour Master by a fisherman.

This photo shows the 10ft, 26 inch diameter sea mine being examined after it was partially submerged in mud on the island.

Despite being on Stert for many years, it has only recently become visible with shifting sands and mud.

As first reported first by Burnham-On-Sea.com here, Coastguards scrambled both the Spirit Of Lelaina and Light Of Elizabeth hovercrafts on Thursday afternoon in order to take members of the Navy bomb disposal team out to the scene.

A one mile exclusion zone was put in place around Stert Island to prevent boats putting themselves in any danger - and this will remain in place on Friday until after the bomb is difused on the late afternoon low tide.

Petty Officer Diver Keith Satchwell of the Royal Navy bomb disposal team told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "I can confirm that a 10ft, 26 inch diamater bomb weighing 700kg has been found by a fisherman on Stert Island. Some four and a half foot of the bomb is exposed at low tide."