HOLIDAYMAKERS are being reminded to take extra care when visiting parts of Purbeck this summer. 

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) uses Lulworth Ranges between Wareham and Lulworth as live firing areas and is one of the busiest in the country. 

The ranges comprise more than 2,830 hectares and are within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and feature a large Site of Special Scientific Interest.  

And the South West Coastal Path runs through the ranges which, due to its stunning location on the Jurassic coast, attracts many visitors and residents. 

Risks to public safety can include live firing, unexploded ordnance (UXO), pyrotechnics and fast-moving military vehicles.  

MOD land is primarily used for military training, and although visitors are welcome, the key take-away from the ‘Respect the Ranges’ campaign is that you should only access MOD land when and where it is safe to do so. 

Col Andy Hough, the regional commander for the south west, said: “With the summer holidays upon us, it’s a key time to remind the public of the potential risks when accessing Lulworth Ranges, as well as the actions they can take to keep themselves safe.  

“Lulworth is one of the most picturesque parts of the Dorset coast. Members of the public are asked to observe and comply with the safety signs and remain in the designated areas and on marked, cleared paths.  

“When military training is taking place, there could be a risk to the public from live fire. Red boundary flags are flown at Lulworth at all times, and we ask that people don’t access the Range unless the permissive paths are open.  

“We ask that people don’t stray from these paths or pick up anything that they may see or find, but that instead they report it. 

“If we all work together to use these spaces with respect and consideration, the public will stay safe, and our Armed Forces will be protected during their important training exercises.”   

The Lulworth Ranges have been a training area for more than 100 years and it’s not uncommon for legacy munitions to wash up on the beaches as well as blind pyrotechnics such as flares and smoke grenades, which are still potentially dangerous. 

When the ranges are live, if members of the public ignore the signs and flags they could enter areas where military training is taking place and where live ammunition could be a hazard.