A popular Merseyside beach has been evacuated.
Ainsdale beach in Sefton has been closed since this morning after what is being described by Sefton Council as "the discovery of potential wartime ordnance".
A decision was made by emergency services and Sefton council to close the beach including the Shore Road entrance. Anyone in the immediate vicinity is being asked to temporarily vacate the area.
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Scene at the beach
Sefton Council's latest update has reiterated that the evacuation was a precautionary measure. Around 50% of the car park remains closed.
However people are still able to visit the beach
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Wait to get on beach
Sefton Council has said due to the redcued car park capacity, people may face a short wait to be admitted to the beach
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Police still dealing with the incident
What appears to be a number of metal detectors are being used at the scene
The public are still able to visit the parts of the beach that are not cordoned off
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Metal detector being used
Photo shows the use of a metal detector around a hole that has been dug within the cordon
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Police working at the centre of the cordon
This picture shows police at the scene working on an area within the cordoned off part of the beach
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People being kept clear of cordon
People are being kept clear of the section of the beach this is cordoned off
The rest of the beach remains open with people out enjoying the good weather
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Beach partially reopened
In the latest update, a spokesperson for Sefton Council has confirmed that the beach has been partially reopened to public
It Incident occured after a metal detectorist made as discovery eaelier this morning
Emergency services were called out straight away and a cordon was put in place. The evacuation was carried out as a precaution
Half of the carpark is closed and police still on the scene leading the incident
However the atmosphere at the beach has been described as calm with people enjoying themselves, according to the spokesperson for Sefton Council
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Officers focusing on centre of cordon
Reports at the scene from an eyewitess say that three police officers appear to be digging round a hole at the centre of the cordon
Another officer has been seen carrying a metal detector
The incident is said to be taking place around the lefthand side of the beach
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Police at the scene
An eyewitness says that there are a number of Merseyside police vehicles at the scene including quad bikes, two police vans and 4×4
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Part of beach cordoned off
An eyewitness in the area has told the ECHO that part of the beach has been cordoned off by police.
The size corndoned off is said to be about the size of a football pitch and to the left hand side of the beach facing the sea
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Police response
Merseyside police has confirmed the force has deployed small scale response in the area and that further enquiries being made.
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Incident ongoing
According to an eyewitness near to the scene, cars are still being allowed onto the beach but are being urged to stick to the right hand side.
This is because the incident remains ongoing at the beach.
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Emergency services dealing with the incident
The local authority has said the decision to close the beach was taken earlier this morning after the discovery of 'potential wartime ordnance'.
The emergency services are on the scene dealing with the incident.
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Road entrance closed
Sefton Council has made the decision to close the beach and the Shore Road entrance.
People in the vicinity are being asked to vacate the area.
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Beach evacuated
Ainsdale has been evacuated after the discovery of 'potential wartime ordinance'
We'll bring you updates on this developing story