THE bomb squad has been called to a suspect device on Worthing beach.

The Ministry of Defence's explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) unit - otherwise known as the bomb squad - has been dispatched to the beach, which has been cordoned off between New Parade East and The Crab Shack.

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said: "I don't know exactly what it is but the Ministry of Defence EOD are assessing it."

The suspected device has now been removed from the beach and the cordon lifted. The Coast Cafe in the middle of the cordonned zone said that had to allow customers to get in and out through the back door.

A member of staff said: "It has been going on for about four hours. The beach to the right of us and the left us was cordonned off but it all seems to have calmed down now."