THE roar of huge engines overhead, explosions as bombs fall. It sounds like the scene from a frontline battlefield, but in fact, it was a common feature of a quiet spot on the Somerset coast not too long ago. You may not know, but even to this day, the county coastline is home to a bombing practice range. The site, in Bridgwater Bay, is officially known as the Lilstock Royal Navy Range and is where pilots can hone their bomb-dropping skills before entering the battlefield for real. The site assumed huge significance during World War Two, with bombers dropping sand-filled bombs (which only contained a small amount of explosives) to replicate the real thing, for target practice.