Coastguard teams were mobilised to reports of a suspicious object yesterday but were stood down at the scene.

Whitehaven Coastguard Rescue Team were mobilised by CGOC Belfast to reports of a "suspicious object" on the beach at Drigg.

Nearby team members were quickly at the scene to speak to the person who reported the object.

A spokesperson for Whitehaven Coastguard Rescue Team said: "As further team members arrived on the scene, the Officer In Charge arranged for details and photos to be collected.

"It was identified that this item was not anything untoward or unsafe."

The coastguard rescue team issued advice to the public on discovering similar items.

"We would like to thank the first informant for doing the right thing, not touching the item calling 999 to report this to the Coastguard and being on hand when we arrived on the scene to make it easier to locate.

"Whilst on this occasion the object was thankfully not suspicious nor dangerous, there are many objects which do wash ashore on our coastline that are, and so we would urge anyone who comes across any suspicious object to do exactly the same as this person did."