Police officers from Stowmarket joined bomb disposal teams in safely removing what residents feared may be an unexploded shell from a garden shed.

Officers were sent to Harding’s Lane in Norton just after 8am today after receiving reports a man, who had just moved into a new house, had discovered a suspected artillery shell while cleaning out the shed.

The item turned out to be an empty practice shell designed to be fired out of a tank gun and was around 76mm in size.

The bomb squad from Colchester Garrison joined police officers at the scene and safely removed the shell before disposing of it.

An army spokesman said: “We would encourage the public to raise the alarm if they do have concerns about any suspect items they find and not to touch them.

“It is better to be safe than sorry.”

Stowmarket police tweeted: “You never know what you might find hidden in an old garden shed! No explosions. Safely removed.”