Staff at a Scots nature reserve fear metal detectorists could uncover World War Two explosives.
Visitors to RSPB Mersehead on the Solway Coast in Dumfries and Galloway have been searching the reserve’s shoreline.
And that has prompted staff to issue a safety warning after recent cases where bomb disposal experts were called to deal with discoveries.
A post on the reserve’s Facebook page stated: “Over the festive period, it has come to our attention that several visitors to the Mersehead nature reserve have been metal detecting on the sandy shoreline.
“Please note that use of metal detectors on this reserve (including foreshore) is not permitted for safety reasons.
“This is because of the potential danger of unexploded ordnance on the shore, sand dunes and merse. As the site was used for bombing practice during WW2, there is a very real risk of unexploded flares and such being found, which could cause serious harm.
“In the last five years alone, there were two incidents where the police explosives division needed to be alerted, to detonate items that were found.