Police Warn Public To Stay Away From Explosion Museum As Shells Found On Site

Police in Portsmouth have urged the public to steer clear of the Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower in Gosport after artillery shells were discovered near the site.

Authorities closed off the area after four to five shells were found and a bomb disposal unit was subsequently called to the scene, The Portmouth News reports.

Residents were originally warned to stay clear of the museum, which is situated in the former Royal Naval Armaments Depot, particularly at Priddy's Hard and Heritage Way. Although, access via Millennium Bridge was reopened swiftly.

Following the discovery, Gosport Police shared a photo of the shells on Twitter and thanked locals for their patience: "THANK YOU: Once again, thank you for your patience earlier during the incident at Explosion Museum. Below is what was found and subsequently made safe by the EOD team.

"Huge thanks to them for their amazing work, as always."

THANK YOU: Once again, thank you for your patience earlier during the incident at Explosion Museum. Below is what was found and subsequently made safe by the EOD team 👇Huge thanks to them for their amazing work, as always. #ThankYou (14328) pic.twitter.com/p34cu1Fjxv

— Gosport Police (@GosportPolice) June 29, 2022

They did not clarify whether the shells were used.

Fortunately, one local saw the funny side and responded: "Thank you and well done. Those of us in Heritage Way were very much hoping Explosion Museum didn't live up to its name".

LADbible have contacted the Portsmouth Police for comment.

It's not the first time that old shells have been found in Hampshire, previously a dad-of-three was left amazed when the 'milk bottles' he found buried in his garden were, in fact, live grenades dating back to the Second World War.

James Osborne, from Bramdean, Hampshire, dug up two crates of makeshift bombs in an area of his six-acre estate where he usually has bonfires.

According to reports, it's believed the explosives had been handed out to Dad's Army-style Home Guard groups back in the 1940s to defend villages from a potential Nazi invasion.

It's thought that around six million of these were made and distributed during the war.

After contacting the authorities, all 48 bombs were detonated in a controlled explosion, with a huge bang and giant mushroom cloud of smoke billowing into the air above the 45-year-old's home.

Following his call, a bomb disposal unit raced to the scene, placing the grenades in a sand-lined skip and making sure everyone was at a safe distance.

Winchester Police took to social media at the time to explain to local residents what was going on so that they weren't too surprised.

A statement from the force read: "If you live or were travelling through the Bramdean area this evening around 7.40pm and heard a large explosion don't be alarmed.

"It was a military bomb disposal team safely carrying out a controlled explosion on some WW2 grenades dug up in a back garden earlier today."