BOMB squad officers were called to what appeared to be an unexploded device but it turned out to be an oxygen cylinder.

The incident kicked off on earlier this week when a dog walker saw the unusual item near Thorney Nook, Walney, and called the police.

The local man, who doesn't want to be named, said: "Basically, I was down on the beach on Wednesday (1) and I saw what I thought was a bomb. I phoned the bobbies and went up to the police station and took them back to where it was near Thorney Nook, on Walney. After that it was taken away and disposed of. You wouldn't have thought it was anything else because you do get them washed up from time to time.

"It was a happy ending though."

Greg Taylor from Furness Coastguard said they were initially alerted at 4.50pm.

He said: "Once on scene the team had literally minutes to asses the situation before the device was submerged by the tide. Once the team were satisfied the device was suitably submerged that it posed no danger to the public they stood down and waited for the next low tide during daylight hours for the Royal Navy Bomb Disposal team to come and inspect the device. 

"The team were therefore called out again on Thursday (2) at 1.30pm when the device became uncovered. Following a thorough inspection the EOD confirmed the device was in fact a washed up oxygen cylinder. The EOD then stood down and the team removed the cylinder from the beach and arranged for correct disposal. This was a case of false alarm with good intent but we thank the informant for calling it in. It is always better to be safe than sorry. If in doubt call 999 and ask for Coastguard."