EXPLOSIVES experts from the Royal Navy were called to Berrow beach on Friday, following a bomb scare.

Several hundred metres of the beach, to the north of the car park, were taped off, after a metal detector enthusiast uncovered the shell-shaped, metallic object hidden in the sand at around 4pm.

Royal Navy bomb disposal experts from Plymouth and Burnham Coastguards rushed to the scene to investigate the find after a tip-off from the beachwardens.

But the situation was defused - when the harmless device turned out to be from a car engine.

Dave Welland, Burnham Coastguard, told the Weekly News: “We carefully marked the position of the object, and a 100-metre cordon was put in place around it to keep the public at a safe distance.”

The bomb disposal team arrived at around 5.30pm and, after inspecting the object, established that it was not explosive or harmful.

Eddie Waring, Petty Officer with the Royal Navy's explosives ordnance disposal team, said: “The object is probably part of a car filter system, but I can see why its shape and size would raise suspicion.

“The beach warden and coastguards did the right thing in calling us to investigate.”

The beach was fully re-opened to the public a short time later - with the cordon being lifted after around 90 minutes of restricted access.