This was the startling scene when bomb disposal experts came to town.

A Royal Navy bomb disposal vehicle and a HM Coastguard one were seen outside Deal Pier.

It turned out that a suspect device, an object dating back years, was found at sea by a dredging vessel off Dover.

It was taken to Deal and detonated at a safe distance at sea yesterday.

HM Coastguard said they were originally alerted at 2.45pm on Sunday.

Perparations were made overnight for the destruction.

A spokesman said: "HM Coastguard had a VHF radio call from a vessel in the Dover Strait, with 11 people on board, reporting that a suspected munition had been found while dredging."

The spokesman said that Deal and Langdon Coastguard Rescue Teams were sent and Walmer RNLI lifeboat was sent to help the EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) team.

A Royal Navy spokesman said: “A Royal Navy diving team were called to a dredging vessel off the Kent coast, following reports of a suspected historical ordnance.

"On arrival, the device was removed from the dredging equipment and safely detonated.

“This is routine work for the Royal Navy explosive ordnance disposal teams."

Resident Jim Wheeler, who saw the bomb disposal vehicle outside the Pier yesterday said: ""There were quite a few people wearing high visibility jackets on the pier and it appeared to be closed.

"It opened shortly after I arrived."

Read more: All the latest news from Deal

Read more: All the latest news from Dover