CHECKS were made on Brighton beach this morning following yesterday's evacuation due to a suspected bomb.

Part of the beach west of the Palace Pier was closed by police for several hours after a "possible unexploded mortar shell" was found at about 2pm.

Officers cordoned off the area from the Albion groyne to the carousel and said they were waiting on support from explosive ordnance disposal teams.

However, the suspected explosive was "washed away with the tide", later in the afternoon, police said.

A spokesman for the Royal Navy bomb squad at Portsmouth confirmed that their team had not attended.

Sussex Police said no explosive ordnance disposal team had attended the scene, but they had "liaised" with them. 

The Argus: Police shut part of Brighton beach yesterday. Photo: Eddie MitchellPolice shut part of Brighton beach yesterday. Photo: Eddie Mitchell

A passer-by at the beach this morning said "all is quiet and open again", and photos show checks being made in the area.

A spokesman for the Coastguard said: "At just after 6.45pm yesterday evening, Shoreham Coastguard Rescue Team was sent to investigate a report of a suspected ordnance on the beach at Brighton.

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"Sussex Police was also in attendance.

"After extensive searches, the object was not located."