ARMY bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion after a World War Two mortar shell was taken into Hatfield Police Station.

The device was taken into the Comet Way base by a man at around 4.30pm yesterday (Tuesday).

Part of the police station was immediately closed off and a 50-metre cordon imposed in Comet Way.

Army bomb disposal experts were summoned to the scene.

At around 8pm they carried out a controlled explosion on the device at a clearing behind the University of Hertfordshire’s de Havilland Campus.

The bomb had been discovered buried underneath a hedge in Bullen’s Green Lane, Colney Heath.

A police spokeswoman said: “A member of the public had uncovered it, and thought they were doing the right thing by bringing it into the police station.”