Local man Adam Wilson has been describing how he picked up an explosive device on
Gress Beach -
Mr Wilson and his six year old daughter Bella were out for a stroll on the popular beach when he spotted it amongst dunes near the Gress River on Sunday.
He said: “I saw this cylinder sticking out of a sand dune.
“It had French writing on it with warnings about “danger” and “explosive” and a firing pin on the bottom.
The red and green coloured device is cylinder in shape with a tapered nose and “looks like a massive bullet.”
He was shocked when realised it might be live and could blow up in his hands so he “laid it down very carefully on the sand and called the police.”
He wonders the if device came from one of the French naval ships taking part in a recent NATO military exercise off Lewis.
Mr Wilson remarked how “brand new and shiny” it was.
Mr Wilson said: “”It was in really good nick. The writing was bright and not faded.”
The only metal part was shiny with “no rust or corrosion whatsoever.”
Police arrived within about 15 minutes and later cordoned off the scene.
The bomb squad will travel over by ferry and are expected to arrive on the island over the next couple of days.
Police officers are guarding the area and people are urged to keep away from the location.
► Bomb squad alert after explosive device found
