Steel ball sparks bomb alert

A Wellington EOD officer pictured with the Howitzer shell and its owner Raoul Lealand. Photo / Supplied

A steel ball that sparked a bomb-squad call-out has been identified as a British howitzer shell that could date back to the 1800s.

Taupo resident Raoul Lealand found the ball, which weighs about 60kg, at a local scrap yard around four years ago.

Mr Lealand, who builds things out of scrap metal, attached a chain to the ball and lent it to friends for stag parties and other events.

Recently, a friend who knew about old firearms suggested it should be checked out. Mr Lealand sent some photos to the Taupo police and was shocked to learn the metal ball was possibly an old mortar bomb or artillery shell and could contain explosives.

Members of the Wellington bomb disposal squad were called to Taupo and identified the ball as a British 10-inch howitzer shell of a variety first manufactured in 1828.

Investigations confirmed it was filled with sand - not explosives.

An explosives ordnance disposal officer said the shell would have been manufactured with the sand inside and then transported to be filled with gunpowder and fused after arrival.

He said that hadn't happened and it was likely the shell had never been fired.

"It's very unusual. We don't get many of these that turn up.

"They are quite a rare commodity."

- APN