A SECOND World War bomb has been detonated on a North-East beach.

The beach, at Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool, was evacuated on Wednesday night after the mine was found close to the town's golf course.

The bomb was spotted by a former military man out for a walk, who alerted the authorities.

Army bomb disposal experts detonated the explosive after a seven-hour operation.

Earlier, police, coastguards and lifeboatmen had cleared the beach and cordoned off a stretch of the coastline.

A police spokesman said the walker spotted the bomb at about 2pm on Wedneday. He recognised the device from his military experience.

The controlled detonation was eventually carried out at about 9.30pm on Wednesday.

It is thought the anti-tank mine had not been there for any length of time but was washed up with the tide.

The remains of the bomb, which was 1ft across and 3in thick, were taken by the bomb disposal team for further examination.

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said: "There was always a chance, no matter how small, that the bomb could explode accidentally, which is why we cordoned off the entire."

An Army spokesman said the bomb disposal unit was brought in from Faslane, in Scotland. He said the team did not believe the bomb had been put there, but had been washed up.