D-Day re-enactment called off as sand on beach where it's staged deemed too dangerous

A D-DAY re-enactment has been cancelled because sand on a beach where it is staged is deemed too dangerous.

Organisers said “blown sand” and “surface water” had made tracks across the dunes hazardous.

The annual event in Devon — which attracts thousands of people — was called off for health and safety reasons.

It is held at Saunton beach and its Braunton Burrows dunes — where 10,000 American GIs trained during World War Two for their assault on beaches in Normandy.

One local said: “They obviously don’t want any accidents, but you can imagine a few of the soldiers who trained there for the real thing scoffing at the decision.”

Assault Training Center Friends, who arrange the event, said: “Having inspected the tracks on Braunton Burrows, they are in such a poor state of repair they are downright dangerous.

“Add to that surface water everywhere that simply won’t drain away — 4ft deep at the concrete landing craft.

“Blown sand 6ft high across some of the tracks off the beach. Access everywhere is so poor even the military have restricted vehicle activity.”

The event was last held in 2019 to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

The cancellation comes two weeks after organisers said the re-enactment — due on June 5 and 6 — was being scaled back to a convoy due to financial cuts during the Covid pandemic.

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