A beach was closed off after a family uncovered a suspected unexploded bomb.

Tracy Ryan took her children for a beach trip yesterday to Leysdown on the Isle of Sheppey to enjoy the summer's hottest day so far.

But after exploring the nearby area her son returned with an unusual item.

The mother-of-three said: "My son walked out on the mud looking about and came back with part of a bomb.

"We didn't think it was anything so put it to one side, but when a friend came along we got him to check it and he said he thought it was an unexploded bomb."

As soon the item was identified, Ms Ryan called the police and other authorities who came and cleared Leysdown beach.

The device was found near the Neptune Cafe and the Shellness car park.

A police spokesman said said: "Kent Police and HM Coastguard attended the beach near Shellness Road, Leysdown-on-Sea, yesterday, around 3.20pm, following a report that suspected unexploded ordnance had been found.

"A Ministry of Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal team later removed the item from the beach."

It has not been confirmed whether the shell was live, what era it was from or if it was British or from another country's military.