ARMY bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion on a Second World War-era mortar shell discovered in the back garden of a house in the city.

A team from the Army’s Royal Logistics Corps went to the house in St John’s, Worcester, after the home-owner discovered the shell in the back garden during a clear out at about 6.21pm on Wednesday (June 13) The house was evacuated and the shell was X-rayed by the bomb team and found to have no main explosive charge inside - making it “a dud”, according to one of the soldiers.

However, because the charge primer was still inside it was decided a controlled explosion should be carried out to make the shell safe.

The shell, described as a standard wartime 4-inch mortar bomb, was taken away by the Army to a field off the Powick roundabout and at about 9pm a controlled blast was carried out.

The mortar - clearly made of stern stuff - was only cracked by the explosion, but declared safe and taken away by the two-man bomb disposal team.

Sgt Ian Booth, of West Mercia Police, said: “A member of the public, while cleaning out their back garden found what they believed to be a mortar bomb.

“He called police, and we attended and confirmed it was a shell and requested support from the Army’s bomb disposal unit.

“The Army assessed the situation, and felt a cordon and wider evacuation of nearby homes was unnecessary given the size and type of shell.

“They then carried out an X-ray of the mortar and determined there was no explosive inside, but it was believed the primer was still present and so it was moved to a place of safety where they carried out a controlled explosion.”