WW2 explosive donated to coastal town charity shop as army issue ‘important’ warning

An Explosive Ordnance Disposal destroyed the mortar in a controlled explosion

An Army Lieutenant issued a major warning after someone donated a WWII explosive device to a charity shop. The item, a British three-inch high-explosive mortar, was found among a collection of items given to the British Heart Foundation store in Victoria Street, Paignton.

Police were called at around 9am on October 7, DevonLive reports. An Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team from HMNB Devonport in Plymouth were also called in to assess the item.

The crew determined the device was safe to move and it was transported to Goodrington Beach, where it was safely destroyed in a controlled explosion.

Lieutenant Matt Bowden, Officer in Charge of Bravo Unit One, and on scene today said: “The Royal Navy Bomb Disposal team from HMNB Devonport was called to investigate suspected ordnance discovered in Paignton today.

“The item was identified as a British 3-inch high-explosive mortar. Once my team had assessed it as safe to move, we transported it to Goodrington Beach, where it was safely destroyed in a controlled explosion.

“Incidents like this highlight the importance of contacting the authorities if you discover any suspected military ordnance and not attempting to handle it yourself.”

The three-inch mortar was in standard use by the British Army between the 1930s and 1960s. It is is a smooth-bore, muzzle-loading infantry weapon which was used throughout Word War Two.

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: “We were called shortly after 9am on Wednesday 7 October following the discovery of what was found to be a mortar round among collections at a charity shop in Victoria Street, Paignton.

“The Royal Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team attended and took the round to Goodrington Beach where it was made safe.”

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