Prompted by the discoveries of two large military flares earlier this week, Police yesterday re-issued a warning to the public to steer clear of any flares or ordnance washed up on Island beaches.

"We strongly urge people not to touch these items; that's the point we want to get across. These things can cause serious damage,'' P.c. Steve Cosham and P.c. Martin Weekes of the Police Explosives Ordnance Disposal team (EOD) yesterday told The Royal Gazette .

Holding a collection of various naval and coast guard ordnance in a secured weapons bunker at the former US Navy Base, the officers -- part of EOD's six-person team -- granted media a good look at their recent haul of deadly finds.

Among the collection are two US Navy target drones, small airframes which are tethered to Naval vessels and used for target practice.

"These were found in the shipping lanes around Bermuda and present a real danger to shipping and to the public if they should wash-up on the beach,'' said P.c. Cosham. "You don't want to mess with these because you easily lose a hand.'' Packed inside their torpedo-length frame is a small (but dangerous) explosives charge and a cargo of toxic jet-fuel. The drones are being held until the US Navy comes to reclaim them.

Some of the more common discoveries along Bermuda's shoreline are US Navy MK-25 submersible flares -- similar to that which washed up at Bailey's Bay last weekend.

About two-feet long, the thin silver canisters are packed with red phospherous and can cause serious burns if tampered with. As well, said P.c. Cosham, the flares don't travel well.

"They could explode if subjected to a bumpy car ride.'' They are so unstable in fact that the person who discovered the Bailey's Bay flare actually got a rash from just touching it, he added.

The flares are dropped from sub-searching aircraft to mark locations and are designed to sink once they are expended, said P.c. Martin Weekes. "Obviously some don't.'' Unexploded ordnance is nothing new to Bermuda, the officers said. Scuba divers have long been finding unexploded shells around certain wrecks but most know well enough to leave them alone, said P.c. Cosham.

Underwater they present no danger, he said. And above the waves the same logic applies. Anyone finding these objects should steer clear and call Police at 295-0011.