A MYSTERIOUS object has appeared beneath the sand at Lannacombe Beach between Start Point and Prawle Point this week.

Nick Osborne contacted the Gazette to explain that with the stormy weather over the past couple of winters, most of the sand has disappeared from the beach.

Nick’s neighbour, who has known the beach for seventy years, says that the beach has never been this low.

Nick explained his discovery: ‘It’s near the low tide mark, and revealed only on spring tides.

‘The unusual object is the bottom half of a sphere about three foot in diameter and made of riveted steel.

‘The top half is missing, but what appears to be a 15 inch cover-plate is resting on the sand alongside.

‘Inside the bottom half, there seems to be the remains of some timber framing.’

Nick thought that the object might be a paravane - a device used to sweep for mines during the first world war, and that perhaps had drifted free and into Lannacombe Bay on the tide.

The object has been reported to the Coastguard, whose Ordnance team will now investigate, with divers if necessary.

The Coastguard have reminded the public that if they discover ordnance on a beach, they should call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

If anyone has any idea of what this object might be, please contact the Gazette on 01548 856353.