Live WWII explosives found in museum store

Army bomb disposal experts have been called in to remove an unexploded cannon shell and military flare found among the stock of items at Dorking Museum in Surrey.

The two-inch illumination mortar bomb and 20mm Hispano cannon shell were taken away and destroyed following advice from an expert at the Imperial War Museum. The items had been in storage at the Dorking museum for up to 20 years, and were found during the museum’s refurbishment project.

Museum publicity manager Kathy Atherton told her local newspaper: “My reaction when I found out that we had this stuff was just horror, really.

“They were just sitting there and were potentially live; they must have been donated many years ago.”

Other items given the all-clear to remain at the museum included a German B1 incendiary bomb, the tail fin from a B2 incendiary bomb and two two-inch British illuminating mortar bombs.

Following the completion of a three-year refurbishment programme, the museum is due to re-open next month.