AN auctioneer was left 'shell-shocked' after he was asked to value memorabilia in a WWI fanatic's mancave - only to find it contained a massive collection of military explosives.

In a scene reminiscent of Simon Pegg/Nick Frost comedy Hot Fuzz, the auctioneer turned up expecting to find militaria, and was confronted by a collection of armourments weighing over a TONNE and including around 100 inactive field gun and aeroplane shells.

However, unlike the movie, they were all safe.

And some of the inert ballistics are expected to fetch between £4,000 and £5,000 when they go under the hammer on Saturday, June 22, at Yeovil Auction Rooms.

Auctioneer Shaun Rock, who valued the items, described the owner's home in Yeovil, as "amazing".

The collector, who is in his 60s, became obsessed with memorabilia because his granddad, who fought in the Royal Artillery, brought shrapnel home from the war.

The small fragment was passed down the family tree and inspired the impressive collection.

Somerset County Gazette:

MOVIE: The find is reminiscent of a scene from blockbuster comedy, Hot Fuzz, when stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost discover an arsenal in a farmer's shed

Shaun Rock said: "His grandfather was in the Royal Artillery and fought from the trenches.

"When he came back, he brought back a piece of shrapnel and handed it to his son. His son then passed it on again to our collector. This small fragment sparked the obsession.

"There's around 100 shells weighing a tonne and a quarter. Some have original timers on the top, but are all inactive."