EMERGENCY services have thrown a cordon around a North-East beach after an unexploded ordnance was spotted in the sea.

A police spokesman said officers had been called to the South Promenade, in South Shields, at 3.15pm today.

He said: "Police and coastguards attended and upon assessing a suspected ordnance was found in the sea. A section of the beach and sand dunes have been cleared of people.

"Bomb disposal experts are now travelling to the scene."

He added: "It would seem to be an old wartime device of some description."

Full story and pictures in tomorrow's Northern Echo