A 999 call from a member of the public with an image of “a bomb-like object” sent Coastguard teams to Lilstock beach on Sunday afternoon (February 18).

But after a thorough search of the area, nothing was found: “The incoming tide had beaten us to it,” a Coastguard spokesman said.

He added that anyone finding a suspicious looking object on a beach should, if possible, take a picture and mark out its exact location.

“But keep a safe distance from the object and keep others away until we arrive.”