Emergency responders were called to Weston Bay on Saturday (April 30) after concerns were raised of a possible unexploded device on the beach.

Teams from Weston Coastguard, beach rangers and BARB Search and Rescue at Burnham helped the explosives ordnance disposal unit from Plymouth uncover the true identity of the suspicious object.

First thought of as an 80-year-old World War Two era sea mine, the giant round object was later confirmed as an old metal buoy and non-explosive.

Weston Mercury: The device was later found to be an old buoy.The device was later found to be an old buoy. (Image: NSC)

Royal Navy bomb disposal inspected the object by hovercraft and helped to dig the buoy out of the sand. It was then removed for disposal by the beach rangers at Weston.

The commotion on the beach then ended when all teams were stood down at around 3pm that day.

Weston Mercury: The Plymouth disposal teams arrived at Weston by hovercraft.The Plymouth disposal teams arrived at Weston by hovercraft. (Image: Weston Coastguard)

Naval mines are explosive devices placed in water to damage or destroy enemy ships.

During the Second World War, the British laid almost 50,000 mines in enemy waters as an offensive strategy with thousands more placed around key strategic areas along the UK coast for defensive purposes.