A 100-metre exclusion zone was thrown around Sheerness harbour

A Kent harbour was at the centre of an explosives alert today.

The alarm was raised when two suspected unexploded shells were found on separate boats in Sheerness harbour this afternoon.

The crews were evacuated and a 100-metre exclusion zone was thrown around the berths by bomb disposal experts.

Sheppey Coastguard received the first call from a catamaran at about 3pm.

Then just half-an-hour later, a second report of an unexploded shell was made by the crew of a cable-laying vessel.

A Coastguard rescue team went to the scene while the Navy explosive ordnance disposal unit was scrambled.

Both shells were found to be safe after being examined.