THE discovery of four military shells in an empty house sparked a major alert yesterday.

Bomb squad officers were called to the semi-detached in Greensmith Way, Westhoughton, after the devices were found by a workman clearing the house as part of a repossession order.

Neighbours were warned to leave their homes and an industrial tip in Trafford Park, Manchester, also had to be cordoned off after one shell found in the house had been dumped there earlier.

Gary Rowson, aged 33, who works for property clearance firm KW Property told of his shock when he received a telephone call saying it was feared he'd just dropped a live bomb off at the industrial tip.

Gary rushed back to the empty house to tell neighbours to leave their houses as police officers arrived on the scene. He said: "I didn't think anything about it when I found three small shells on a desk in the bedroom. I just brought them downstairs and put them by the door.

"When I went into the garage I saw this ammunition box which had a bigger shell in it. I just threw it in the back of my van and drove to the tip. "When I was there I had a joke with some of the lads saying 'Look what I'm leaving you with' but I honestly never thought there was a problem.

"I couldn't believe it when I got the call to say the Bomb Squad had been called out. I was in complete shock."

Roads around the industrial dumping ground were cordoned off as an Army Bomb Disposal team checked out the device before moving to Westhoughton.

Investigations revealed all four devices - an artillery shell and three drill rounds - were duds. An Army spokesman praised the prompt action of Police who told them of the shock discovery at the Trafford Park tip. He added: "Until the team arrived no-one knew if they were live."

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