A Pembrokeshire beach has given up a 70-year-old wartime secret.

Very low tides at Freshwater West recently revealed remains of an ancient forest - and a large piece of an aircraft.

This was found by builder and architectural technologist Patryk Borajkiewicz of Pembroke Dock who was with his girlfriend Sarah and their two dogs.

By chance nearby was D-Day Veteran and ace beachcomber Ted Owens, searching with his metal detector.

“I got chatting with Ted who told me about a wartime bomber which came down on the beach,” said Patryk. “Ted had seen parts of the aircraft before but now lying on the sand was this large section. It was completely exposed and likely to have been carried away on the next tide so I dragged it off the beach.”

Ted advised Patryk to contact aviation historian John Evans at the Sunderland Trust’s new Heritage Centre at the Royal Dockyard Chapel.

John consulted with aviation research colleagues and believes it is from Wellington MP638 of the Coastal Command Development Unit based at nearby Angle Airfield which forcelanded on the beach in April 1944, without casualties.

Wellingtons had a distinctive metal ‘geodetic’ framework and Patryk’s ‘find’ is now in a freshwater desalination tank at the Sunderland Trust’s Flying Boat Centre.

Patryk plans to join the volunteer crew at the Centre to carry out conservation work on his find.

Earlier this month barbed wire, believed to be from the Second World War, was also uncovered among the dunes on Freshwater West.

Rebecca Stock, National Trust manager Stackpole Estate, said: "We are aware of the Second World War barbed wire that has been uncovered at Freshwater West by the recent storms, and have taken measures to alert people of the hazard.

“The extent of the wire is not yet clear, and there may be more ordnance in the area. We shall work with the other landowner and the relevant authorities to agree the best way to reduce the risk.

“In the meantime, we would urge visitors to the area to take care when walking in the dunes.”