A "VERY dangerous" Second World War shell caused a major alert in Poole.

A man had found the shell in a nearby garden and put into his car.

Dorset Police yesterday cordoned off Winston Avenue, Branksome, at the junction with Winston Gardens, following a call from a member of the public just after 10.30am. The Royal Navy bomb disposal team was called to carry out a controlled explosion on nearby heathland.

Some residents were told to leave their homes, taking refuge at Rossmore Leisure Centre. Around 30 children who were on a trip away from nearby St Aldhelm's were housed in a nearby church.

Temporary Inspector Colin Smith of Poole police said: "The finder contacted the police, who advised him to leave the bomb where it was," he said.

Lieutenant Commander Justin Haines, of the Royal Navy bomb disposal unit, said the device was a live two-inch shell, made in 1943. "It was very dangerous," he added.

Pupils at St Aldhelm's were kept inside the building on the advice of police and cars were also prevented from accessing the road for around two-and-a-half hours.

One evacuated resident said: "The police banged on my door about noon and told me to get out quick - there was a wartime bomb in a car opposite. They said it would be about 40 minutes, but then they said about three hours."

Eric Jennings, further down the road, found his way blocked when he tried to take his wife to work at 11.30am.

He said: "Everyone was waiting near the school but then they moved them further away. They kept all the children in the school and all the parents were waiting outside the cordon because they had arrived to pick them up at lunchtime.

"The police sent for the bomb disposal squad and when they arrived everybody was told to move further back."

The road was eventually re-opened just after 1pm.