A GARAGE clear-out unearthed an unexpected find for Stogumber couple Sue and Chris Garwood.

The husband and wife team decided to tackle sorting out nine years' accumulated belongings last Thursday but the heirloom they discovered was a bit of a surprise.

Lodged behind a piece of chipboard nailed to the wall in the wooden garage was what was later identified as an artillery shell.

Chris and Sue had no idea whether the ammunition, which measured just three inches, was live but they decided they ought to call the police.

"The police turned up to look at it and decided to send for the bomb disposal squad," said Chris, who is a member of the locally based Stoggy Men musicians.

Several hours later and after some further investigations, the shell was taken to one of local farmer Viv Sellick's more isolated fields and blown up.

"By that time Sue and I were in the pub," said Chris.

"I think it provided a bit of excitement for some people in the village but we weren't too shocked."

Chris believes the shell, which had certainly been there for the past nine years when the couple bought the house, belonged to the former owner of the property - a keen military enthusiast.

"I don't know if it was live but it apparently made quite a loud bang when they blew it up and moved quite a bit of earth in the field," said Chris.

"But it had obviously been there some time without causing any problem and would still be there if we hadn't decided to clear the garage," he said.

A spokesman for the Avon and Somerset police said the shell was believed to be a World War Two device.

* World war grenade found in attic

BOMB disposal experts were called to Normandy Avenue in Watchet on Saturday afternoon after a World War Two hand grenade was found in an attic.

Local homes were evacuated while experts removed the hand grenade from the property.