PART of a town was cordoned off after a First World War mortar shell was handed in at the police station.

A man carried it to Great Harwood Police Station at 6.40pm yesterday after finding it on Bowland Fell.

The station was evacuated and Blackburn Road and neighbouring streets were cordoned off. Residents were told to stay in their homes.

The shell was defused by a specialist army bomb disposal team and was identified as a World War One two-inch smoke mortar bomb.

The station and the surrounding area remained closed for more than an hour.

Inspector Stuart Whittle, of Blackburn Police, said: "Our main concern was for safety and the fact that the bomb had been brought in to a busy area.

"We had to stop traffic passing in front of the station and make sure no-one was put in danger.

"If anyone finds any item which could possibly explode we advise them to leave it well alone, note the location and notify police."

Judith Steele, a mother-of-three, of Blackburn Road, said: "The police came and told us all to stay in the back rooms.

"They said there might be an explosion but we weren't really worried otherwise they would have evacuated us.

"Most people thought there was a bomb and everyone rushed to get their children in."