Dozens of boats and businesses were evacuated when part of a torpedo was discovered.

Divers found the Second World War munition floating at sea on Saturday evening and brought it back to Brighton Marina.

It was identified as the front section of wartime torpedo and everywhere within 300m was evacuated while Royal Navy bomb disposal experts were called in.

McDonald's and Brighton lifeboat station were among the buildings cleared.

Lifeboat crew member Alan Young said: "It was located by a group of divers, three miles south-west of the marina, who first thought it was part of a mooring buoy.

"They brought it ashore so nothing would hit it and it was identified as Second World War ordinance by one of the security officers.

"The Navy asked for an immediate evacuation of 300m.

"With all the windows at McDonald's and Jackson's Wharf, it would have been lethal if there was an explosion."

Crews were finally allowed back in the lifeboat station just before 11.30pm.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "At 7.18pm police were called to the lifeboat station at Brighton Marina.

"Navy officers established the object was part of a Second World War torpedo and contained no explosives. The incident lasted three hours."

A spokesman for Solent Coastguard said: "Divers reported an obstruction on Saturday afternoon and were able to bring the object into the harbour, unaware of what it was.

"It was then realised it might be ordinance of some sort.

"The Royal Navy bomb disposal team was called and it was taken out into the sea and destroyed."

Staff at the marina's Pizza Express restaurant said they heard a diver had brought the torpedo part back as a souvenir.

Premier Marinas refused to comment.