A very scary Christmas: How Santa sparked a bomb alert

Little Patrick McAlindon got a metal detector from Santa…then sparked a bomb scare.

It only took the seven-year-old 15 minutes with his new present to close down busy Loch Morlich beach in the Cairgorms and for the police to be scrambled from Aviemore.

Patrick, from Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, was on holiday at Coylumbridge with his family when he uncovered what looked like a cache of Second World War grenades.

When his dad, Andy, called the police they were told to get everyone back from the area.

Andy said: “They were very concerned. The beach was packed with tourists and locals out for a Christmas Day walk. The police told us to put a cordon round the hole where Patrick had been digging.

“We had just gone to the beach to try the metal detector out. Patrick’s first find was an old ring pull, then a metal bottle top. A few minutes later he came across a very high reading which nearly went off the scale on the detector.

“He started digging and, not far down, he was finding pieces of wood and then metal hinges. A little bit more digging exposed two Second World War bomb cases with warning signs. It was time to stop digging and call the police.

“The police arrived with flashing blue lights on. They took photos and sent them to the Bomb Disposal Squad in Edinburgh. After a lengthy discussion between the police and the bomb squad they decided the site was safe.

“It was a really exciting first use of Patrick’s new Christmas present and it caused quite a stir on Loch Morlich beach, which was packed with tourists”

And what did Patrick think? He said: “This is the best Christmas present I’ve ever had. What a great day.”

Patrick went back again on Boxing Day for another go on the beach at Loch Morlich. He unearthed another two crates bringing the total to three with warning signs to go with them.

Patrick is used to the limelight. He will be appearing in the fifth Outlander series which is to air in the New Year, thanks to his dad, Andy, who has been a regular on the time-travel smash hit.

Andy’s wife, Ana, has also appeared in the series and will be back for series five as will his eldest son, Daniel, 19, although daughter Lana, 4, has not been on the show. Yet.