AN unexploded wartime bomb was found on a North-East beach yesterday morning.

It was the third time in as many weeks that police in Saltburn, east Cleveland, have been called by the public to the beach in related incidents.

The Royal Army Logistical Corp, part of the bomb disposal unit, was called out from Catterick Garrison to dispose of the three-inch mortar bomb, found near The Ship Inn.

But after x-raying the bomb, the team decided there was a slim chance it could have been a high explosive chemical mortar bomb from the First World War and have sent it off for further tests.

PC Bill Heenan, from Saltburn police, said they usually got one call out a year to a report of a bomb on the beach, and it was a mystery why there suddenly seemed to be a rush of weapons washing up on the shore.

He said it could be due to sunken ships off the coast breaking up, or the tidal pattern.

"We want to make the public aware that they should not pick these things up if they find them on the beach, but call the police immediately," he said.