Origins of Kingswood bomb uncovered after "Carry On" incident (From Gazette Series)

Origins of Kingswood bomb uncovered after "Carry On" incident with Gloucestershire Police taking the bomb back to the garden

8:20am Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News By Daniel Chipperfield

THE ORIGINS of the bomb that led to the evacuation of part of Kingswood village after a blunder by police have been revealed.

The World War Two shell caused a stir after it was handed over to Gloucestershire Police to be removed from the garden of a house in Wickwar Road.

An officer collected the ordnance and put it in the boot of his car but was eventually told to take it back to the garden after the police realised it maybe a risk to the public.

The area was evacuated to allow a bomb disposal squad from the Royal Logistic Corps to collect and destroy the explosive.

The shell was first discovered on the doorstep about six weeks ago by Karen Bailey, who described the episode that unfolded as "like a Carry On film".

She had purchased the house with a view to renovating it and said she had no idea how it got there but kept it after a friend, who is an enthusiast for military shells, said it was safe.

But after a contractor showed concerns, Mrs Bailey decided to call the police on Thursday, February 28.

Wotton-under-Edge-based housewife Michelle Woodman and her then husband Jon lived at the property before Mrs Bailey, but split up as they prepared to move out and there was a mix-up in communication on who should have the shell.

"I started laughing as soon as I saw it in the Gazette," said Mrs Woodman.

"I left it by the door so he could pick it up because we were not on good speaking terms at the time and then the next time I see it, it’s in the paper.

"It has been in the house for years, my child has played with it, even the dogs."

Several years ago Mr Woodman, who now lives in Portishead, had worked as a fencer and when he was working at an elderly man’s home in Bristol he was offered the shell and told it was not dangerous.

"Basically he said I could have it and that was it really. It’s been used as a doorstop ever since," he said.

"Michelle rang me and said I had made the front page of the Gazette. I thought it was quite funny to be honest."