Officers have been stood down following reports that a suspected wartime bomb had washed ashore.

Police were first called to Sheerness beach on Sheppey, near the steps to the swimming pool, yesterday morning (October 10)

They were joined by a bomb disposal team from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Coastguard.

It was thought that a wartime bomb had washed up on the shore shortly before 10.50am.

As a result, the area was taped off as investigations took place.

But the search was called off as the incoming tide covered the suspected device before it could be dealt with.

Emergency services then went back to the scene in the evening and pictures taken at the scene show officers trawling the beach with flashlights.

However, it’s since been confirmed today (October 11) that officers have been stood down as the item was not wartime ordnance and posed no risk to the public.

Bunny, a local fisherman, told KentOnline he spotted the officers on the beach at around 8pm.

“I had seen them earlier during the daytime while I was fishing with my friends at Neptune Jetty,” he explained.

“They were searching for something, however, the tide came in over the object. So they opened the cordon and left.”

He added: “We go metal detecting down there and find disposed laughing gas bottles all the time that look like mortars.”

The MOD was approached for comment.