POLICE evacuated about 20 homes and cordoned off a road after a man found old explosive devices in his front garden.

The discovery of an artillery shell and what could possibly be an old land mine caused havoc in Watson Close, Shoebury, on Friday afternoon - and even caused the bomb squad to be called in.

The explosives were unearthed after Steve Douglas, 36, had employed builder Dave Pankhurst and his team to dig up his garden and build a new driveway.

Mr Pankhurst, who runs Dave’s Garden Services, based in Eastwood, said: “It was one of my lads digging.

“He found two devices and moved them out of the way.

“He put them over by the bins.

“He phoned me up and said that he had found two bombs. I told him not to touch them because they are dangerous.

“I thought that I’d better phone the police and they sent a couple of officers round before evacuating the entire area.”

Officers from Southend’s local policing team initially went to the scene and looked over the bombs before deciding to evacuate the area.

The Royal Logistics Corps (RLC) were then sent to the area and specialists safely removed the devices.

They were later analysed and disposed of.

The cordon was put in place for about three hours while the scene was made safe.

Mr Douglas, who works in telecommunications, said: “Police officers kept turning up and leaving - at one point there were four police cars here as well as the bomb disposal unit.

“When the bomb disposal unit came, we had to be kept behind the cordon so we couldn’t see what was going on.

“We weren’t allowed anywhere near it.

“It’s been quite surreal but you have to laugh about it at the end of the day.

“I have been quite philosophical about the whole thing.

“At one point, even a Network Rail guy turned up because he might have had to close the railway, but fortunately he didn’t have to.

“I only moved in in May and I have been speaking to the neighbours today and apparently most people here have found old explosives and bits and pieces in their garden - apparently this area used to be a bit of a dumping ground.

“We still haven’t finished the garden so I’m wondering if we will find any more.”

Mr Pankhurst added: “From that first phone call, you don’t realise the enormity of it all.

“I thought that they might just throw it into a box and take it away but obviously they needed to take precautions.”

An Essex Police spokesman said at about 3pm on Friday that a cordon had been set up and wanted to ask people to avoid the area while enquiries were taking place.

He said: “Officers have set up a cordon following a report just before 2pm on Friday, that an artillery shell and what is believed to be a small number of old explosive devices had been found at an address in Watson Close, Shoebury.

“The military’s explosive ordnance disposal unit are en route to make an assessment of the devices.

“A number of houses have been evacuated to ensure residents’ safety and the road closed.

“Members of the public are thanked for their patience and requested to avoid the immediate area while an assessment of the devices is carried out.”

By 4.20pm, the police said: “The military are now safely removing the devices found earlier today and residents are being allowed back into homes.

“Police thank the public for their co-operation this afternoon.”

Police are urging members of the public who find anything that they are concerned could be an explosive device, to not touch it and to dial 999 immediately.