Bomb disposal team called to deal with unexploded shell in County Durham scrapyard

The police and the army's bomb disposal team were called to a dramatic incident at a County Durham scrapyard on Friday afternoon when an unexploded shell was discovered.

A substantial police presence was at the scene - at the Wingate Grange Industrial Estate - accompanied by specialist army officers and the police helicopter. The incident was first reported shortly before 12.30pm, and was resolved by around 3pm.

At 12.29pm on Friday, a spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said on social media: "Officers are currently dealing with a report of a suspicious item at a scrapyard in Wingate Grange Industrial Estate, Wingate. A cordon has been put in place while the bomb disposal team assess the item. The public are asked to stay away from the area."

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After the explosive was safely removed from the site, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "We can confirm an Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team was called out from 521 EOD Sqn to Wingate, County Durham at the request of Durham Police. The team recovered an unfused L15 HE shell and have returned it to safe storage for onward disposal."

The incident saw a wide police cordon in place, spanning an area including the entrance road to the industrial estate itself. During the incident army officers were seen moving the unexploded shell into a specialist bomb disposal vehicle before it was removed from the scene.