BOMB disposal experts were called in to deal with a mysterious device found in a beck.

The specialist crew from Catterick Garrison were called after the suspect device was spotted in beck at the rear of Valley Road in Middlesbrough this afternoon (Sunday, August 30) by a member of the public.

Police decided to close several roads in the Grove Hill area of the town to protect the safety of the public while investigations were carried out to discover exactly what the object was.

The bomb disposal team identified the object to be a type of mortar before removing it and carrying out a controlled explosion away from the scene.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: "Explosives experts have now attended the scene and viewed the item which was submerged in a beck behind Valley Road.

"It is believed to be some kind of mortar and the device will be removed by experts and destroyed safely via a controlled explosion elsewhere."

The police have thanked the public for their co-operation during the operation which lasted a little over an hour and roads were all re-opened.

Last month experts from the North Yorkshire garrison were called removed a spent artillery shell from a County Durham care home.

Police were called to the facility in Oak Terrace, West Cornforth, County Durham, at 5.40pm on July 19, after a concerned staff member was shown the 18-inch shell by a resident.