BOMB disposal experts were called to a beauty spot after a shocked teenager discovered a historic mortar round.

Alfie Hislop was walking at Middlewick Ranges in the fields behind the Australia estate in Colchester with some friends on Wednesday evening when he noticed something poking out of the ground.

The 18-year-old moved in for a closer look, starting to dig to uncover what was hidden.

He soon realised what he had uncovered was a mortar round.

Alfie, who works at his father’s reclamation and demolition yard MJ Spindler Trading and attends Colchester Institute, said: “We saw something sticking up out of the ground.

“At first I thought it was a little old gun sticking out of the ground but as I was digging I started to see what it was.

“As soon as we knew what it was we walked away then tried to figure out what to do with it. We left the area and I called the police straight away.”

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Essex Police arrived at about 8pm on Wednesday, with Alfie showing them to where the bomb was found.

Alfie, who had no idea whether the bomb had detonated or not, said: “I was completely panicked as first. I called lots of people asking what to do.

“It looked like it is an old mortar, from one of the world wars.

“They have a trigger which activates when they hit the ground and they are meant to detonate but this one had stuck in the ground. All it takes is the slightest movement to set it off.

“I feel a little bit relieved nothing happened.”

Here is a video Alfie took of the mortar:

Middlewick is a wildlife haven but also an active Ministry of Defence training ground, however, much of it is open to the public to enjoy.

The site is set to be sold in 2022, after which the MoD is working on plans to build 1,000 homes on part of the area.

Beauty spot - Middlewick Ranges in Colchester and (inset) the mortar found by Alfie Hislop

 

Alfie said: “We go walking on The Wick quite a lot and that is the first time we have found anything.

“But we always know there was a chance of finding something due to its nature.”

A spokesman for Essex Police confirmed officers and the explosive ordnance disposal team attended.

Experts found the round had already exploded and it was taken away for disposal.