The Isle of Man Coastguard has today released details of a delicate operation to deal with unexploded ordnance found on a beach on the north-west coast.

The smoke and flame marker flare - often used by submarines - was spotted by a member of the public.

A navy diving team was called in to destroy the device.

Howard Caine has more details:

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The device - 18 inches long, cylindrical with orange fins - was spotted by a man walking on Killane Beach on Friday.

Pictures of the object were e-mailed to the Navy Northern Team who identified it as a complete, floating flare.

The Ramsey coastguard team guarded the object, and the surrounding area all night as it was located between two farms, and below the high water mark with the tide coming back in.

Meanwhile divers took the overnight ferry from Heysham arriving here in the early hours of Saturday.

The flare was moved by the Coastguard to Ballaugh Cronk, where it was later destroyed in a controlled explosion.

The Coastguard is reminding the public to report any suspicious object they may find on a beach, and never to touch it.