A TEAM of bomb disposal experts was called in after an unexploded device was found on Saltburn beach at the weekend.

The discovery, made by a group of children playing in the sand, is the latest in a long line of live wartime munitions found on beaches in the area in recent months.

Redcar Coastguard sealed off part of the beach near the Ship Inn, between 2.45pm and 5pm, before the Army Bomb Disposal Unit took the foot-long object away for safe disposal.

Coastguard watch manager Steve Kinroy, from the regional headquarters in Bridlington, said: "It was reported to us as a case which appeared not to be empty.

"Initially we advised the person who called to put it into a bucket of water for safekeeping until we got there.

"There seemed to be a charge left in it. It could be a shell or a little charge or some sort of old rocket - we're not really sure."

The Ministry of Defence confirmed in September last year that there was a number of wartime wrecks on the sea bed off Saltburn, which may have carried ammunition. Nine are known to be lying five miles off Saltburn pier.

Councillor Dave Walsh, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said yesterday that the ministry needed to step up its investigations.

"It's quite clear that every time we get stormy weather or easterly winds, devices like these are coming up on the beach.

"We must renew our efforts to see if they will spend some money examining these wrecks. I will be talking to our MP, Ashok Kumar, to see if he can put pressure on them."

Dave Horsley, fishermen's representative for the North-East coast, agreed that the ministry needed to take a closer look at what he believes are hundreds of wrecks along the coastline.

"It is certainly something that they seem to want to ignore, but they should be putting their heads together because these things are not getting any safer.

"Once they come out of the water and they are exposed to oxygen they become volatile and could explode at any time."