Goole police station closed by unexploded Boer War device

The device was at first thought to be a World War Two shell

Staff at a police station in East Yorkshire got a shock when an unexploded device from the Boer War was handed in at the front counter.

Goole police station had to be evacuated as a result of the unusual donation, which was at first thought to be a World War Two shell.

Humberside Police said the offending item was a live explosive round about 6ins (15cm) long and 2ins (5cm) wide.

Army experts made the device safe and the station reopened at 17:15 GMT.

It was closed for about three hours.

The first Boer War was in 1880-81 and the further war of 1899-1902 is sometimes also called the South African War.