Neighbours in a residential road near Epping Forest got quite the surprise when a potentially explosive relic from the Second World War was discovered.

The emergency services were called out to a house in Mark Avenue, in Chingford, to reports of an alarming discovery – an unexploded shell.

Officers found the shell in a garage, hidden away for decades near Epping Forest, which backs onto the residential road.

Fortunately the shell was confirmed as “not explosive”, with experts identifying it as anti-tank shell.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: “There was no risk to the public and the shell was taken by police for destruction.

“If members of the public do come across objects they believe could be explosive, whether historical or not, the best advice is to leave the object in place, do not touch or move it.

“Move approximately 15 to 20 metres away and call the police who will attend and risk assess the situation.

“Do not move the object as this causes unnecessary risk. All reports of this nature will be taken seriously.”

Chingford was no stranger to bombs and shells during the Second World War as Hitler began targeting his long-range V-2 rockets at London in September, 1944, in revenge for Allied bombings of German cities.

Around 20 long-range rockets were fired at Chingford, with seven targeting critical water supplies, very close to the recent discovery, at the William Girling and King George’s reservoirs.