Divers renew mine detonation bid

17 July 2011 Last updated at 02:34 GMT Royal Navy divers will make a second attempt later to blow up a live World War II mine which was dredged up off the Essex coast.

The 2,000lb (900kg) German parachute mine was found on Friday eight miles off Clacton.

It was due to be detonated on Saturday but became detached from its markers in 90ft (27m) of water.

Severe weather and poor visibility hampered divers trying to move it. They are expected to try again at 0700 BST.

'Destructive force'

On Saturday the Navy said it was using sonar to locate the mine which is believed to have fallen about 30m to the sea bed as it was being lowered from the dredger to a flotation device.

With the worsening weather and visibility, the RNLI's Walton and Frinton lifeboat brought the Navy team back to shore.

A Navy spokesman said: "They know where the mine is. They put it down on the sea bed and they won't lose track of it."

Stewart Oxley, a spokesman for RNLI Walton and Frinton, said the mine was "in remarkably good condition" and that it was still "a viable destructive force".

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