REPORTS of a "wartime grenade" being uncovered prompted part of the beach at Recar to be cordoned off.

The bomb disposal team from Catterick were called but on closer inspection the offending object was confirmed to be nothing more deadly than a discarded starter motor from a tractor.

Cleveland Police was first alerted on Monday afternoon by a member of the public who had reported a "wartime grenade". The bomb disposal team was called but due to the incoming tide were unable to reach it until this morning (Tuesday, April 21).

The lifeboat station and the Royal Hotel slipway was cordoned off while investigations were made.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police confirmed: "It is believed to be an old part from a tractor used by a fisherman.”

Dave Cocks, lifeboat operations manager at Redcar RNLI, said: “Parts of the beach were cordoned of while they were looking at what it was.

“You have to be careful with these things - it could have been something dangerous and thankfully it wasn’t.”