A bomb disposal team was called out after landscapers stumbled upon an armoury of unexploded Second World War artillery... which are believed to have been buried by a pensioner 77 years before.

The 94-year-old man was 17 when he buried the munitions in the garden of a house in Bromley Road, Colchester, at the end of the Second World War, a neighbour said.

But they were rediscovered by the landscapers and a full scale alert was triggered.

The Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, based at Merville Barracks in Colchester, arrived upon the scene to deal with the mass of live ordnance.

Upon inspection, the items included various Second World War vintage grenades, mortars and ammunition – all of which were live.

In a series of Tweets, a neighbour detailed how the events unfolded, from the police asking residents to leave their homes, to Ring doorbell footage the bomb disposal team arriving at 12.24pm.

After police eventually deemed it safe for residents to return to their homes 20 minutes later, five more unexploded shells were found in the garden at 13.16pm.

It eventually transpired a 94-year-old neighbour, who once lived at the property and was now living further down the street, had buried the ammunition there when he was 17-years-old, at the end of the Second World War.

No-one in the street was injured and the bomb recovery team was able to safely retrieve the unexploded weaponry for disposal.

An Army spokesman said: “We can confirm an Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team from Colchester Garrison was called out on June 7 to attend an incident at Bromley Road, Colchester.

“Upon inspection various Second World War-vintage grenades, mortars and ammunition were found in the garden of the property. The items where recovered by the team for safe disposal.

“At no time was there any danger to residents and we thank the public for their patience.

"We always advise the public that if they inadvertently disturb what they believe to be live ordnance, they should contact their local police force as a matter of urgency.”