BOMB disposal experts mobilised to a suspected artillery shell on East Cowes beach — only to find it was a concrete bollard.

UK Coastguard said the member of the public who reported the suspected explosive did the right thing to phone in and report their concern, despite it turning out to be a false alarm.

The call came in at 7.50pm yesterday (Wednesday), and the object was described as a 2ft long object, recently exposed on the beach.

Bembridge Coastal Rescue Team was sent out, and the Royal Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police were informed.

The object was unable to be located due to the tide coming in, so it was decided to wait until the next low tide, at 4.30am this morning (Thursday).

The EOD confirmed it as a concrete bollard.

A spokesperson for UK Coastguard said: "The person who reported it did the right thing to report any concern.

"They left it where it was and gave an accurate description of what they could see."

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