The Coastguard has warned people against dumping flares at unattended stations.

Drew Parkinson, HM Coastguard Senior Coastal Operations Officer, tweeted a photo of flares that had been left in Hope Cove.

He said: “Called today to deal with seven out-of-date flares dumped at Hope Cove Coastguard Rescue Station yesterday. Please do NOT dump flares at unmanned Coastguard stations. Call 01803 669107 for SAFE disposal. If found, do not touch, call 999 for Coastguard. #Safety.”

The Royal Yachting Association advise on their website: “Flares contain explosives, once they are past their expiry date it is essential that out of date flares or Time Expired Pyrotechnics are disposed of carefully.

“It is illegal to dump flares at sea, illegal to dump them on land and illegal to let them off in anything other than an emergency.

“Ultimately the responsibility for the safe disposal of out of date flares rests with their owner. The eventual disposal of TEP must become part of your buying decision and who you buy them from.”