Bermuda's shores but none have been so unexpected as a live explosive charge found at Horseshoe Bay yesterday.

Just after 8.30 a.m., tractor drivers Mr. Calvin Lambert and Mr. Wayne Smith spotted a canister containing the shell floating in the water.

"Wayne pulled it out of the water,'' Mr. Lambert said. "There was writing on the side which said ammunition so I told him this has to be some kind of explosive.

"I felt kind of timid about it when we first pulled it out of the water. We took the cap off and could hear the pressure coming out of it.'' Mr. Lambert said they even took out the shell for a look, but at that point, decided to report the matter.

Police later identified the item as a charge cleaner used by navy vessels to clear cannon barrels.

"It was dangerous,'' said Police Inspector Robert Hay. "It contained an explosive and a charge.'' He added that the state of the cannister indicated it had been at sea for some time.

"I have no idea where it came from,'' he admitted. "It must have come off a ship but which ship we don't know.'' Police evacuated the area while a unit specialising in detonating explosives moved the shell to a four-foot hole in the sand.

After two attempts, the explosive ordinance disposal unit declared the 18-inch long shell weighing 15 pounds had been made safe.

"I have found all different types of objects washing up but nothing of a serious nature,'' Mr. Lambert admitted yesterday.

He added it was pure chance he and his colleague found the shell.

"I think it was the rain that caused us to stumble across it. We were supposed to be doing a job in Somerset but we just dashed down to look at the beach instead.''