A section of beach was closed today in a false alarm over an empty case of bullets.

A member of the public found the military-style case washed on the shore between the piers at Brighton.

They handed it in to the seafront office, who called police.

The case’s label said it contained 200 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

Sussex Police cordoned off the area while an army bomb disposal team travelled to Brighton from Aldershot.

When they arrived they discovered the case was empty.

The beach was closed between 9.20am and 11.30am.