A bomb squad was called to Overstrand after a walker found an unexploded second world war mortar.

The team from Colchester carried out a controlled explosion after the device was discovered off a path close to the radar station shortly before 9am yesterday.

Mark Johnson was out collecting sloes when he spotted the rusted bomb sitting amongst fallen leaves and raised the alarm.

He said: 'I just spotted what looked like the tail of a fin. I thought it might have been a German incendiary bomb.

'I moved the leaves out the way and it was a British two inch mortar bomb. I walked away from it fairly quickly and then I contacted the police.'

An officer arrived quickly at the scene near Mundesley Road and cordoned it off. The bomb squad arrived a few hours later and carried out the controlled explosion at around 1.40pm.