CLEARING a shed at the end of a terrace off Crediton High Street on Monday, builder and renovator Peter Webb found what he recognised as two unexploded bombs.

“I found these two devices, both slightly more than a foot long, among other stuff on a box in the shed we have been clearing for a lady. There is a lot of stuff in there, all covered in years and years of cobwebs and dust.

“The devices had a rounded nose and propellers. They were all green and rusty and dusty, just stuck on top of this box. My comrade verified the find, the owner was notified and said she didn’t know anything about them.

“She said she would inform the relevant people. I had told my second-in-command to get out of the shed and just leave them where they were,” said Peter.

He added that five police vehicles and officers turned up, standing in various places including at the top of the garden to stop anyone accessing the alleyway, although people who lived there were cautiously allowed to do so by the police on guard on the High Street.

“It shows that when the police are needed, they do get here,” added Peter. “There was nothing else we could do, so we went home. Myself and my team will now soldier on,” added Peter next morning.

It was understood the two items were unexploded incendiaries from the last World War. How they arrived in the shed would be fascinating to know.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson said: “The two items were taken away by The Royal Navy team for safe disposal. The cordon was lifted just after 5.30pm.”

On Monday afternoon the police said they were waiting for the Explosive Ordnance Detonators to arrive from Plymouth to check and deal with what had been found.

Sue Read