Rain exposes ammo dump

The corroded bombs found at Ardmore yesterday. Photo / Natalie Slade

This week's weather bomb exposed bombs of a different type when rain uncovered a cache of World War II practice shells yesterday.

Bomb disposal experts were called to Ardmore Airport after an ammunition dump was discovered when heavy rain caused a drain to collapse.

Emergency services cordoned off a 400m radius around the cache for about 3 hours but specialists found only old shells and casings.

Inspector Earle McIntosh from the police northern communications centre said the dump was exposed on Harvard St about 11am.

The area was well away from buildings and did not affect flying activities.

Ardmore was established in 1943 at the request of the United States Air Force for use as an operational base during World War II.

Though construction was not completed until 1945, it served as a pilot training base, and as a training centre for returning servicemen as part of the demobilisation effort after the war.