THE bomb disposal squad was called out to Bournemouth beach last night after an unexploded Second World War shell was found.

Police erected a 400m cordon between East Overcliff Drive and Manor Road and evacuated the immediate area.

Hundreds of people were in the vicinity after watching the night flight displays at Bournemouth Air Festival .

The drama did not affect the displays nor the night-time concert.

A controlled explosion was carried out late last night and the cordon lifted.

Mark Smith, Director of Bournemouth Tourism , said last night: “Emergency services have done a fantastic job dealing with a suspected World War Two shell found on Bournemouth beach.

“The public have been extremely co-operative in clearing the area to allow the emergency services to do their job.

“We hope to see everyone back at the Air Festival on Saturday.”

Sarah Allen from Wimborne was on the beach with friends and her children when they were told it was being evacuated.

“The first firework went off and then there was a bang. Then there was a second bang.

“The beach staff were really hassled getting us off the beach.

“When the bangs went off we jumped out of our skin.”

A local 26-year-old unemployed man armed with a metal detector found the shell.

The man, who did not wish to be named, said: “I was walking along the beach and the reading on my equipment went sky high. I started digging and in the end I was using a metal spade and it bent the tip.

“I then realised what it was and said to my mum ‘If I were you, I would step back as I think I have found a bomb.’ I then told some police officers.”

He added: “My mum said it was about time that I found something big.”