A large, unidentified object washed ashore, prompting a member of the public to call the coastguard. 

Officers were alerted on Sunday afternoon by Solent Coastguard NMOC (National Maritime Operations Centre) to reports of a large, long unidentifiable object on the shore opposite Burton Mere on Cogden Beach.

Five West Bay officers, including the teams deputy station officer, responded to the station, picked up their equipment and rescue vehicle headed for Cogden.

Once on scene, the object was identified as being a large buoy that appeared to have washed ashore during the recent bad weather.

The buoy, which had no identifiable markings, was photographed before it was dragged away from the high water mark to prevent it from being washed out to sea on the next high tide.

Grid references and the photographs were then passed to Solent Coastguard for onward investigation and to arrange disposal.

The coastguard has thanked the member of the public for reporting the object, saying: "We are pleased to report that the object was nothing sinister.

"Stay safe on the coast but if you find yourself in difficulty, or if you are concerned for others, do not hesitate to dial 999 and ask for the coastguard."