Overview
- Police received a report of suspected unexploded ordnance on Seaham Beach and set up a large cordon along North Terrace that included the town's Tommy statue.
- The cordon closed adjacent seafront car parks and blocked beach access while officers and emergency vehicles remained on scene.
- Specialist personnel from the Army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit attended to assess the item and declared it safe for the public.
- The police cordon was dismantled at about 7pm on Tuesday after the EOD inspection and authorities described the operation as a precautionary safety response.
- The incident caused only temporary disruption to the seafront and illustrates the standard public-safety process for suspicious wartime-era items, which prioritises cordons and specialist assessment before reopening areas.