The Royal Navy is attempting to reassure residents after a shell fired during a military exercise landed about a mile from houses.

An investigation has been launched into the incident near the small village of Durness in the Scottish Highlands.

It will aim to establish why the gun was not fired at the Cape Wrath firing range.

I think it is the first time that an incident like this has happened in 35 years

Navy spokeswoman

Commander Bertie Armstrong, operations officer for Scottish Military Exercise areas, stressed that the shell had not gone astray.

He said it had been discharged from a 4.5in gun on a navy vessel taking part in an exercise off the west coast of Scotland.

The shot was part of the normal practice of continuously firing off shells from hot weapons to avoid explosions.

Crews normally choose a bearing well away from inhabited areas.

However, on this occasion they picked Loch Eriboll, near Durness, rather than another part of the Cape Wrath range.

'No danger'

A Navy spokeswoman said Commander Armstrong was expected to visit local residents following the completion of the exercise next week.

"Hopefully he can reassure them that this is very rare - I think it is the first time that an incident like this has happened in 35 years," she said.

Commander Armstrong said: "There was no danger to anybody on the beach, on the little island or the village of Durness.

It exploded exactly where it was meant to explode

Commander Bertie Armstrong

"It was not pointed at the village of Durness, it was fired at a range in a bearing that was perfectly safe.

"It exploded exactly where it was meant to explode.

"We certainly don't want members of the public to think 'oh my goodness, was I at risk here?' and that's what the outcome of the investigation will concentrate on."

The frigate involved was one of three vessels involved in the joint maritime exercise on Wednesday.

Eye witnesses said the explosion happened about half-a-mile from the small island of Eilean Hoan.