A 'marine marker' potentially full of explosive phosphorous and commonly used by the military has been found near the north Norfolk coast.

The marker was discovered by a member of the public at Holkham on Sunday afternoon, and was then carried 500m to be given to a beach warden.

Members of the Royal Air Force's bomb disposal team, 5131 Squadron based at RAF Wittering, along with Norfolk Police, were called in to deal with the ordnance.

Objects of its kind can be used to track enemy submarines, locate survivors lost at sea and determine wind speed and direction.

A 5131 Sqn spokesman tweeted an image of the marker, along with a warning not to handle such objects if any more were found.

The tweet said: 'Please if you find anything suspicious leave it where you found it.

'Item now #harrmfulharmless'.