A north Norfolk beach has reopened after an object, believed to be an unexploded artillery shell, was identified as a piece of scrap metal.
The object was discovered by a walker and the explosive ordnance team arrived at the scene on Bacton beach at 4.45pm.
Police and an Army bomb disposal unit were called to the stretch of sand just below Bacton Gas Terminal at lunchtime and sealed off the area.
The area has now been reopened to beach-goers.
Kurtis Gale discovered the device yesterday and after showing a picture of it to a friend, who thought it looked like an second world war artillery shell, he called police this afternoon.
Mr Gale, 19, from Bacton, was walking along the beach surveying the damage left by the December 5 storm when he spotted the rusted device sticking out of the sand.
He said: 'I looked and thought that doesn't look too good. I went back and showed a friend of mine and he said 'I would tell the police because that looks like an artillery shell without the nose cone'.'
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here