A SUSPECTED unexploded bomb found in Teignmouth this morning was actually a large metal pipe, officials revealed.

Two metal detectorists unearthed what they thought was a bomb at the town’s main beach just after 11am.

Police, a bomb disposal squad and the coastguard rushed to the scene and quickly set up a 100-metre cordon near St Michael’s Church.

A spokesman for the Plymouth-based Royal Navy Bomb Disposal Unit revealed: ‘We are 99 per cent certain that the device is not a live ordnance.

‘It appears to be a large, heavy, metal pipe which is open at both ends.’

The spokesman insisted the unit would rather be called to a false alarm rather than someone not alert them.

Detectorists Robert Sercombe and Karl Monk, who live in the seaside town, were on the beach looking for treasure when they made the startling find.

Rob said: ‘We found something larger and heavier than what we normally find so we notified the RNLI who in turn called the police.

‘The police then contacted the bomb squad and we waited until they turned up and removed it.’

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman revealed the unexpected discovery was removed by the bomb team at around 2.30pm.

Rob and his pal Karl were praised by police, bomb experts and the coastguard for their quick thinking in notifying the authorities.