UPDATE: Road reopened after bomb fear

Dog walker Sally Baker stumbled across the object on East Worthing beach this morning and reported it to the coastguard.

The bomb disposal unit was called and a section of Brighton Road was closed but upon further inspection, the object was found to be fishing equipment.

Senior foreshore inspector Graham Cherrett said: “A report of ordnance washed up on the shore was received by the coastguard in the location of Ophir Road.

“On examination, it was found not to be ordnance but an item of fishing equipment.

“It is large and it is entirely justified what this person thought they saw but it is quite safe and it is now standing in my rear yard.

“What the lady did was totally justified.”

Mr Cherrett said the object was in the shape of a shell, made of polystyrene and even had a serial number.

Mrs Baker, of Meadow Road, Worthing, said: “I took the dog out before I go to work and she was trying to eat and dig it. It was about 50cm long and I didn’t want to touch it myself.

“There’s all sorts of things washed up and it just looked like another bit of rubbish, especially covered in mussel shells, so it was only when I got closer I thought ‘uh oh’, that’s not good.”

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