A World War Two shell was exploded by bomb disposal experts at a field in Essex on Wednesday (January 6).

Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) officers from Colchester carried out a performed explosion on the ammunition in a field off Shalford Road in Rayne after the discovery was reported to police the day before.

The alarm had been raised after a member of the public became concerned about an item of scrap metal that he had brought home from work.

On inspection by the bomb disposal team from Colchester Troop, 621 Squadron, 11 EOD Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, it was found to be a Second World War-vintage 18lb HE shell which still contained explosives.

An Army spokesman said: “Destroying the shell was the safest thing to do in the circumstances, as old ammunition can be quite unstable.

“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.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Police were called at 6pm on Tuesday, January 5 to a report of an object believed to be a World War Two shell in a garden in Shalford Road, Rayne.

“The MOD Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) were contacted, the device was moved to a field and a cordon established.

“EOD disposed of the device in a controlled explosion at around 1.50pm the following day.”