Army bomb experts are looking at a 'suspicious item' inside a 100 metre cordon on a famous West Country seafront.

Weymouth Esplanade is sealed off by police on Friday (March 22).

Dorset Police have revealed the closure is because of an unidentified item, which appears to have sparked a bomb scare.

A police spokesman said: "At 1.23pm on Friday March 22 2019 Dorset Police was informed of a suspicious item that has a weathered look.

"The Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit has been notified. A 100 metre cordon has been put in place."

Witnesses at the scene have taken photos of police tape keeping the public back.

A red van was spotted by one onlooker, within the police cordon.

The road closure was first reported at 3.51pm, according to the AA traffic map.

Diversions are in place.

The AA added: "Road closed and slow traffic due to police incident on The Espanade from B3155 to B3159.

"Detour in operation - via King Street.

"Slow traffic heading towards Weymouth on B3155 Greenhill Southbound.

"Affecting Northbound traffic on A354 Weymouth Way heading out of Weymouth due to traffic avoiding area of the road closure."

Follow live updates on the bomb scare road closure.

Want more news?

To subscribe to our daily newsletter, enter your email address into the box at the top of this story.

To keep up to date with our latest news, follow us on   Facebook   and   Twitter  .

Find our Bath Facebook page   here   or Somerset's can be found   here  .

Alternatively, follow us on Twitter -   @BathLive   and   @SomersetLive  .