Phosphorus Flare Destroyed on Cornish Beach

A phosphorus flare hauled in by fishermen 9 miles off the north Cornwall coast was destroyed in a controlled explosion at Constantine Bay Beach near Padstow.

The item – a common find in British waters and along its coastlines – was safely detonated after the beach was evacuated.

Pyrotechnics can be effectively used for only a period of time, after which they become Time-Expired (TEP), with the contents deteriorating to an extent that the deployment of the item cannot be undertaken safely.  Strict regulations are in place regarding the disposal of TEPs in the UK.

See: http://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/bomb-squad-padstow-constantine-bay-602576