A BEACH at Widemouth was cordoned off on Saturday because of a bomb alert.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency received a call from a member of the public at around 9.30am after spotting what they believed was a piece of ordnance washed up at Black Rock beach.

The item, which the coastguard agency said looked like a metal canister 18 inches long and four inches wide, was identified through photos as a military phosphorous flare.

The Bude Coastal Rescue Team was dispatched to meet the person who found it and clear the area.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) carried out a controlled explosion.

The coastguard agency said no other canisters were found on the beach.