Specialist firearms officers were called out to Formby beach after a member of the public found a live rifle bullet.
Southport Coastguard officers were patrolling a section of the popular beach yesterday when a member of the public approached them in the Lifeboat Road area.
The walker claimed to have found a bullet. Coastguard officers inspected the item and found that it was live.
The officers sent photographs of the 'bullet' to Holyhead Coastguard, who alerted police.
The Coastguard said that Merseyside Police then sent an armed response unit to the beach to recover the item
The incident happened yesterday.
A spokesman for Southport Coastguard said: "HM Coastguard Southport were again out patrolling the beaches around the Sefton Coast.
"The team covered Southport, Birkdale, Ainsdale and Formby.
"Upon arrival at Lifeboat Road, Formby the team were approached by a member of the public who had come across what looked to be a rifle bullet. On inspection it was established the the round was live and needed to be passed to relevant authorities.
"Holyhead CGOC we’re informed and photographs sent to them. They then notified Merseyside Police. A police officer responded to the call and then requested assistance from armed response officers who then removed the ammunition to a safe place."
A Merseyside police spokesman said: "The bullet was analysed and it is believed to be an old and rusted rifle round washed up from the sea. It was recovered for disposal. "
