A SUSPICIOUS object which was initially thought to be an unexploded bomb has been removed from Shoebury East Beach by His Majesty’s Coastguard.

An informant had contacted coastguard officers about the object, which had the potential to be live ordnance, earlier this week.

Echo: Sectioned off – a large part of Shoebury East Beach was cordoned off earlier this weekSectioned off – a large part of Shoebury East Beach was cordoned off earlier this week (Image: HM Coastguard Southend)

Coastguard officers then put a 100m cordon around the object to prevent anyone coming into danger, with the army’s explosive ordnance disposal team later arriving on the scene to inspect the object further.

It was later declared safe before being removed from the beach to prevent any further callouts.

His Majesty’s Coastguard Southend-on-Sea thanked members of the public and community safety officers for their assistance on Wednesday and Thursday, during which time the object was identified and removed.

It is not unusual for unexploded military ordnance to appear on Southend’s beaches, with bomb disposal experts called to Leigh-on-Sea back in 2019 after an unexploded World War Two ordnance washed ashore.

Following the incident earlier this week, a social media post from His Majesty’s Coastguard Southend-on-Sea read: "Such ordnance, if found, can be potentially dangerous.

Echo: On patrol – the coastguard called in the army's unexploded ordnance device teamOn patrol – the coastguard called in the army's unexploded ordnance device team (Image: HM Coastguard Southend)

"If you ever see something suspicious or out of the ordinary on the beach or in the sea, do not touch it, move it or take it home – let the experts decide if it is safe.

"Move to a safe space and call 999 and ask for the Coastguard so our teams can investigate.

"Should you see anyone in trouble on or near the coast, don’t hesitate to dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard, you could save someone’s life."