WWII bomb taken to police station

Police car engines turned off in case they caused an explosion

A police station had to be evacuated when a pensioner walked in and asked to hand in a World War II bomb.

The man said the artillery shell was in his car prompting police to cordon off part of Stevenage town centre in Hertfordshire for safety.

Bomb disposal experts were called and the all-clear was given three hours after the alarm had been raised on Wednesday afternoon.

Police officers stopped using radios in case this triggered an explosion.

Car engines were turned off and a secure area cordoned off around Stevenage police station while the WWII shell was made safe by a bomb disposal squad.

Veteran's 'gift'

The Stevenage man who brought in the shell said a veteran soldier had given it to him and he had stored the bomb for years behind his garden shed.

A spokesman for Hertfordshire Police said: "The shell was about three to four inches long and about one inch in diameter.

"We set up a cordon and moved people out of the front of the police station and out of the reception area.

"The man was given the shell by an old soldier friend and he wanted to get rid of it.

"I hope that anyone else who finds unexploded ordnance will leave it in place before calling for police help."