DOZENS of people were evacuated from Studland’s Knoll Beach Cafe at lunchtime, after a member of the public walked into the nearby information kiosk with a Second World War shell.

Staff exercised caution and immediately evacuated the cafe, the kiosk and the nearby toilet block.

Emergency services were notified and a 200 metre cordon, effectively closing the car park, was put in place until bomb disposal experts arrived around 2pm.

A National Trust spokesman explained: “Cafe staff decided to err on the side of caution after a member of the public brought what appeared to be a Second World War cannon shell that they had found.

“When the bomb disposal team arrived they quickly examined it and took it away. The cordon was then lifted.”