A controlled explosion has been carried out on a bomb which was found in a Letchworth shed this morning.

The Comet: A member of the bomb disposal team sets to work.A member of the bomb disposal team sets to work. (Image: Archant)

Police were alerted at about 9.20am after a member of the public discovered what is believed to be a mortar bomb at a house in Danescroft.

Bomb disposal team were called to investigate and took the bomb to The Grange Recreation Ground, where a cordon was put up before experts detonated the explosive device at 1.20pm.

The Comet was speaking to a female eyewitness over the telephone when the mortar bomb was detonated.

The Comet: Two of the team after the controlled explosion was carried out.Two of the team after the controlled explosion was carried out. (Image: Archant)

She said: “The bomb has just been detonated and as you can hear it’s made a terrific noise.

“It’s set my dogs off, and all you can see is thick black and grey smoke.

“The noise has got my heart racing – you don’t come across something like this everyday do you?

The Comet: One of the unit at the scene in Letchworth.One of the unit at the scene in Letchworth. (Image: Archant)

“I saw at least three soldiers in army fatigues near the bomb, as well as police officers who closed the park off to dog walkers.

“My goodness it was a loud explosion. A policeman said to me earlier it was a 100-year-old bomb so it could have been an armaments shell from the First World War. I’m not sure if the Germans dropped any bombs around here – but you never know.”