The Army’s Bomb Disposal unit was called in after a suspect item was found
16:33, 20 Dec 2025Updated 16:33, 20 Dec 2025
A controlled explosion was carried out on a beach notorious for old military ordnance. Coastguards in Ceredigion photographed the item before calling in the Army’s EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) unit.
They’d received a report of a suspect device found at Ynyslas beach between Aberdyfi and Borth. The vast sandy beach, part of the Dyfi National Nature Reserve, flies no-swimming red flags because of its dangerous currents.
It lies close to a former “top secret” military base set up towards the end of World War Two. Ynyslas was selected by the Air Ministry as a missile-testing site when the Germans began developing long-range rockets with guidance systems – the V1 and the V2.
The Ynyslas Range provided special test facilities for Britain’s response – rockets propelled by liquid fuels such as liquid oxygen and petrol.
Test firings were conducted from concrete bases near the shore car park. A lack of firing space mean the site was closed shortly after in 1946.
Due to the amount of unexploded ordnance left behind, the site’s legacy continues to this day. Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community
The latest drama began on Wednesday, December 17, when HM Coastguard teams from Borth and Aberystwyth were called to the beach.
The suspect item was destroyed in dramatic fashion(Image: HM Coastguard Borth)
After their photos were studied by the EOD team, all parties returned to the beach the following day.
“Once the item was no longer covered by the tide, we provided a safety cordon on the beach so EOD could detonate the item,” said a Coastguard representative.
A video of the explosion showed a Coastguard officer appearing to stand perilously close to the explosion.
A team spokesperson explained: “The officer seen behind the explosion is at least 100 metres away from it, the photograph just makes him look closer!”
The Army’s Bomb Disposal unit arrive at the beach(Image: HM Coastguard Borth)
Urging people not to pick up suspected ordnance from the beach, Coastguards said old military items were often found nearby.
Instead, beachgoers should call 999, ask for Coastguard and give a precise location of the item found. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
Find out what’s happening near you