Bomb disposal experts are set to resume a search today after a fishing boat dredged up an explosive catch.
It is the second time in less than three months that the trawler Lunar Beam has snared an old bomb, but its unexpected catch now appears to be the one that got away.
Thames Coastguard were alerted when the boat pulled in its nets about a mile off Walton Pier to find what is thought to be a Second World War bomb inside.
Coastguard watch manager Anthony Mayhew said the West Mersea fisherman found the unidentified ordnance at about 10.15pm on Monday and immediately asked for instructions.
"He said he would take it to St Peter's Flat near Bradwell where he placed it on the sea bed and marked it with an orange float," said Mr Mayhew.
A two-mile exclusion zone for shipping and aircraft was set up around it.
But when the Royal Navy bomb disposal unit from Portsmouth went to dispose the explosive yesterday , along with Essex Police Marine Division, they could not find it. They were set to resume their search again today.
Published Wednesday June 30, 2004
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