AN UNEXPLODED torpedo is thought to have been dragged up from Studland Bay by a fisherman – then lost again in the sea.

The “six-foot-long, pipe-like” object was pulled up in the fishing net just before 10am on New Year’s Day.

Concerned for his safety, the fisherman lowered the net back into the water and placed a marker buoy in the spot.

He immediately contacted the coastguard but when they arrived with a bomb disposal team from Portsmouth, they were unable to find the suspected torpedo.

Portland coastguard have backed the fisherman’s actions and said the bomb disposal unit did not consider the incident serious enough to dive for the object.

Steve George, from Portland coastguard, said: “The fisherman acted appropriately.

“We would always advise anyone who discovers a suspected piece of ordnance – on land or in the sea – to contact us immediately.

“If there was a real safety concern the Navy team would have been quick to dive or come back to search for it, but this time they seemed quite happy.”

The object pulled up in the fisherman’s net was described as having “fins on the end”, leading the bomb disposal experts to speculate it may have been a torpedo.

Discoveries of this type are common around Studland as it was a major site for troops practising for the D-Day landings during the Second World War.

A large majority of the items are found to be inert and not to pose any danger to the public.

Anyone who discovers a suspected piece of ordnance in the area should contact Portland coastguard on 01305 763628.