Arms firm drops plan to test bombs over Scottish world heritage site

A British arms manufacturer has scrapped plans to conduct live-fire testing of fragmentation bombs in the middle of a world heritage site in Scotland.

The Overwatch Group had sought permission from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to drop anti-personnel bombs from drones in the middle of the Flow Country on to land owned by the Liberal Democrat hereditary peer Viscount Thurso.

Last month the Flow Country became the first peat bog globally to receive world heritage status, recognising its ecological significance and role in climate change mitigation.

The bomb tests were called off after it emerged that the designated area included part of the Strathmore peatlands, a site of special scientific interest. This protected area is home to rare and endangered bird species such as