A warning has been issued to beach users not to pick up phosphorous submarine flares after two were located and destroyed on the same day.

A controlled explosion took place at Salthouse Beach, just north of Widemouth Bay.

A photograph shared by Bude Coastguard Rescue appeared to show that the flares came from the US Navy.

Bude Coastguard Rescue Team were paged and tasked to support rescue team members who were already on scene at Salthouse Beach, just north of Widemouth Bay, following a request from Falmouth Maritime Coordination Centre to locate a phospohorous submarine flare that had been spotted by a member of the public the previous evening, but had subsequently been lost.

Rescue officers quickly located the flare at the top of the beach, and with images sent to Falmouth, the rest of the team were subsequently paged in support, in order to maintain a 200-metre perimeter in advance of the arrival of the Royal Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit.

Once on scene, the Royal Navy team requested that the rescue team create a 200-metre safety perimeter while they prepared for a controlled explosion. Once happy the perimeter was secure, warning was given, and a safe detonation took place. 

Later that same day, the rescue team was paged for a second time and once again tasked to investigate a report from Sandymouth Lifeguards of a second phosphorous submarine flare that had been washed up onto the beach and discovered by a member of the public who subsequently handed it to the lifeguards.

Understanding the serious danger posed by the object, the lifeguards placed the flare by the cliff face nearby and created a safety cordon.

Once the rescue team were on scene, images were again passed to Falmouth who in turn passed them to the Royal Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, who immediately diverted from another less critical tasking in order to attend to the phosphorous flare at Sandymouth.

Once on scene, and with the beach cleared and a perimeter secured by members of the Rescue Team, the Royal Navy successfully detonated the device. Once given the all clear, the beach was immediately re-opened.

Following the incidents a Bude Coastguard Rescue Team spokesperson said: "Within 24 hours we have received and acted upon two positive reports of active phosphorous marine flares that have been found on local beaches. Both incidents subsequently required the attendance of the Royal Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit to perform controlled detonations of the objects.

Please heed and share the following advice: If you see any type of discarded flare or possible pyrotechnic device on the beach or in the sea, please attempt to note its position, and then dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard, or notify the beach lifeguards. Do not touch or attempt to move the device yourself. Please keep any children at a safe distance from the device and keep your dogs on a lead. Please warn anyone in the immediate vicinity of the device to move away to a safe distance."