The Ministry of Defence launched an inquiry after unexploded landmines from its testing centre at Shoeburyness, near Southend, Essex, turned up on nearby beaches.
Eight boxes, each holding 90 explosives, should have been blown up by MoD staff, but were instead washed out to sea. The alarm was raised when boxes were found off West Mersea, near Colchester, at Holland Haven, Clacton-on-Sea, and at Frinton-on-Sea. Helicopters searched the coast in Essex and Suffolk and the Holland Haven beach was closed for fear of loose mines.
Police said three boxes were still missing.
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