WILLITON’S recycling centre has reopened – after the discovery of a mortar shell forced an unexpected closure this afternoon.

The Somerset Waste Partnership says a member of the public brought the shell into the recycling centre on the Roughmoor Industrial Estate.

Bomb disposals teams were brought in but left a short time ago, and the centre has reopened.

It is not clear what happened to the shell. 

An SWP spokesman said: “Explosives or ammunition should not be taken to recycling centres. The advice is to handle these items with care.

"Ammunition can be taken to a police station for disposal.

"Contact the local police firearms licensing department for advice on disposal of explosives.”