Bomb team destroys antique

Bomb disposal experts have safely destroyed a potentially explosive antique thought to be from the Second World War.

A man handed over a selfac fire extinguisher to officers in Musselburgh fire station, after being told it could be

dangerous.

Officers contacted the bomb disposal team from the Royal Logistics Corps and they removed the antique device to Longniddry Bents to be destroyed around 7pm yesterday.

A cordon was erected around the beach while officers dealt with the extinguisher. No-one was injured.

Many selfac extinguishers were distributed during the Second World War. They are canisters containing bicarbonate of soda and a central explosive charge.

They were often placed in roof spaces and used to contain fires by dispersing the fire retardant powder over the flames when triggered by intense heat.