A shell-shocked beach-goer spotted two men jauntily carrying two unexploded bombs, each slinging the high-risk souvenirs over one shoulder.
The explosives are potentially deadly and the Ministry of Defence has launched an urgent appeal to find two men photographed walking off the beach at Worbarrow Bay near Lulworth Cove, Dorset.
The area is part of the 7,000-acre Lulworth Military Range used by the Army for tank firing practice.
The brazen walkers were snapped carting the rusty 120mm tank shells away from a Dorset beauty spot
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence said it could not be certain whether the shells were live rounds. “The men should immediately contact the police who will arrange for bomb disposal experts to examine the shells. There is no guarantee these items are free from explosive and they could therefore be extremely dangerous.
The woman who snapped the photograph told the Dorset Echo: "“I thought they were carrying rugs, but as they walked past, I saw they were enormous shells.
“I was with somebody who used to be in the Army and he said that because their ends were intact, they were unexploded,” she said.
“I was really scared. As they were walking past, my little girl was alongside them. They could have gone on the Sandbanks Ferry or on the motorway. I just think they’re idiots.”
The MOD is now appealing for the people in the photo, or anyone with information on them, to contact their control room on 01371 854500, citing reference number 63 10-03-2013.