BOMB disposal teams were called to a Hampshire beach at the weekend after two First World War shells were found.

Officers were despatched to Hurst Spit by Solent Coastguard when the rusting devices were found at 1.40pm on Saturday.

Dozens of people visiting nearby historic Hurst Castle looked on as crews spent two hours at the scene before carrying out controlled explosions.

The shells are thought to have been brought in by the dredgers which rebuilt the shingle bank about eight years ago and are sometimes exposed after stormy weather.

More than a dozen have been unearthed over the past few years and are said to have come from a practice range between Hurst Spit and The Needles.

They are the legacy of military activity that took place in the New Forest area during the two World Wars. Hurst was garrisoned in both conflicts and formed part of the Coastal Artillery defences until 1956.

Student photographer Avril Black, who had been taking pictures of the area during the day, said: "There was quite a lot of people in the area anyway because it was such a nice day.

"A lot of people stayed to look on when they heard what was going on and watched the Army bomb disposal teams arrive at the scene. There was a police officer at the scene who stopped people walking in one area and told them what was going on."