A golf club near Southampton was evacuated by a bomb squad yesterday afternoon after a suspicious metal object was found in the soil.

The item, which was first feared to be a World War II bomb, was found in a consignment of soil delivered by lorry to Stoneham Golf Club on Monday at around 2pm.

However it turned out to be a piece of metal from a tank.

The driver of the lorry raised the alarm with club staff after he spotted a metal object in the dirt he had just delivered.

In a text message sent to golf club members, the club said the earth had come from a site which had a "history of bombs landing there during World War 2".

The text continued: "These bombs were often released by planes returning from missions to ensure they landed safely.

"The area, now being developed for housing, was excavated this morning.

"Unfortunately, one of these bombs was unearthed, encased in soil, and transported by lorry to the golf course.

"Upon arrival, it was spotted by the TJ digger driver while being unloaded. Their quick thinking and immediate action in raising the alarm have been praised by the police."

But a police spokesperson told the Echo that despite initial fears, the "suspected unexploded ordnance device" was not a World War II bomb. 

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It has since been revealed by Stoneham Golf Club that the metal device found was part of a tank, that may have been used during World War II. 

The golf club also added that this was the first of such an incident to happen. 

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: "We were called at 2.28pm yesterday, Monday, December 16, to a report of a suspected unexploded ordnance device at Stoneham Golf Course.

"We attended to assist, and our EOD colleagues attended to assess the item, which has been confirmed as safe and is not an unexploded ordnance."