MoD confirm 'suspected ordnance' was 'scrap metal'

A 656ft (200m) cordon has been put in place in Teignmouth

A "suspected ordnance" found at a beach in Devon has been identified as "scrap metal," according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

A 656ft (200m) police cordon was put in place in Teignmouth earlier but was lifted when the Royal Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team assessed the object as safe and removed it.

In a statement, the MoD said: "We can confirm that a team of Royal Navy Divers from Bravo Squadron, based in HMNB Devonport, were called out to a suspected item in Teignmouth earlier.

"The item was assessed as safe (scrap metal) and moved from the site."

A spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency told the BBC that it was made aware of the incident at about 13:05 BST.

It said the suspected ordnance was found near the pier at the beach.

Teignbridge District Council said it had worked with the police and other agencies.

The area around the pier was evacuated

BBC Spotlight reporter John Ayres described Teignmouth as a "ghost town".

He said: "What's very unusual being at Teignmouth beach, is it's a glorious sunny day and you've got the beach and the den here with the play park and there's a fun fair on the den and you would expect this place to be crowded with a lot of people but today its absolutely empty, it feels a bit like a ghost town actually."

Jamie Starkie, who was visiting the pier with his family, described the moment police began clearing the area.

"We were just enjoying a sunny day out when officers came and told everyone to evacuate," he said.