An ex-soldier has discovered an unexploded bomb in a  garden, it has been reported.

Luckily for engineer Dave Owen, he knew exactly what to do, when he spotted the device in a customer's garden.

He described the rusting object, which looked like a military shell, and saw it in the neighbouring garden of a customer’s home.

Quick thinking Mr Owens immediately told the woman to remain indoors and to phone the police.

Shortly afterwards, bomb disposal experts at the army arrived at the woman's house in Caernarfon, North Wales, and Mr Owens led them to the shell.

They were able to confirm it was an unexploded Second World War incendiary device.

Mr Owen was praised for his quick thinking actions and police evacuated residents from nearby houses as a precaution.

Commenting on the incident, Mr Owen said: "The woman told me she had dug up the object the previous day. I calmly advised her to go indoors with her dog and to dial 101 for the police. I told her it could be a device from the Second World War and might be dangerous. She said: ‘Are you joking?’

“I didn’t tell anyone else about it because I didn’t want to alarm people. From my military experience, something that old can be unstable and liable to explode so it’s best not to take any chances.”

Mr Owen had previously served for 22 years in the Royal Corps of Signals, including in Afghanistan, Iraq, Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Bosnia and Belize.

Now working as an engineer, he is one of the many ex-military personnel who has lent his experience and skills to engineering and management roles.

The military charity, SSAFA has praised Mr Owen's quick thinking actions. Earlier this year, it partnered with Openreach to support ex-army veterans into the engineering and business sectors.

The SSAFA said: "It's good to hear stories of the courageous support Openreach engineers such as Dave Owen provide to protect British communities."ADNFCR-2867-ID-801794488-ADNFCR

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