Police called a bomb squad to Weymouth Beach this morning after a 'suspicious' item, washed up on the beach.
A cordon was temporarily put in place but once the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team arrived they removed the item, believed to be a flare, and the cordon was lifted at around 11.30am.
Dorset Police received a report at about 2pm yesterday that a suspicious item had been found on Weymouth Beach.
Officers carried out searches but the device was not immediately found and following consultation with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team (EOD) it was advised that there was believed to be no immediate risk and searches could recommence in the morning.
At around 8am this morning the item was found and now enquiries are being conducted to establish what it is.
A cordon has been put in place as a precaution for the safety of members of the public.
At Weymouth Esplanade where police are awaiting bomb squad to deal with suspicious device on beach pic.twitter.com/Bal531vMzR
— Ellie Maslin (@DorsetEchoEllie) May 13, 2020
Speaking to the Echo at around 11am whilst the cordon was in place, nearby resident Fiona Lawrence said: "I came down at about 8.30 this morning with the dog, the cordon was up when I got here.
"I had a little walk round with the dog and have been here pretty much since then.
"I spoke to someone who had been told by police it was an unidentified object.
"I was surprised when I first saw the cordon - I would say it's not often you get this sort of thing in Weymouth - but it's happened a few times recently.
"On one occasion there was a bomb scare in Ranelagh Road."
A spokesperson for Weymouth and Portland Police said: "The Neighbourhood Team are currently down on Weymouth Beach following a report of an unidentified item that has washed up on the shoreline. We've had to put a cordon in place on the Esplanade just to ensure the public's safety while we liaise with some specialist teams. The roads are still open."
The EOD team was called in this morning to investigate the item. A Dorset Police spokesman said: "The EOD team has now attended and the item, which is believed to be a flare, has been removed and will be disposed of. The cordon was lifted at around 11.30am."
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 The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.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 hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel