The bomb disposal squad exploded a Second World War shell which a man took back to his house in Ellesmere Port.

Startled residents reported hearing a loud bang as the artillery head was destroyed during a controlled explosion on Friday (September 13) night.

The vintage anti-aircraft shell was found by a man with a metal detector in a field, who took the device back to his house in Berwick Road, Little Sutton – it was fused and believed to be live.

Police were called to the address at around 4.21pm. Officers then called the Army who sent specialist soldiers from the Explosive Disposal Squad (EOD) to the address.

Specialist soldiers from the 521 squadron of the Royal Logistic Corps, based in Chester, moved the shell from the address to a field in School Lane, Childer Thornton.

An Army spokesperson confirmed the EOD had been involved in an incident in Ellesmere Port, saying: “We were called at about 6.40pm.

“It was fused and believed to be live.

"The person who found it in a field took it back to their house. The operators then removed it back to a field and disposed of it."