Bomb disposal team deals with unexploded device on wartime practice range near Matley Wood campsite and Lime Wood Hotel, off the B3056 Beaulieu Road at Lyndhurst

BOMB disposal experts were scrambled after an unexploded device thought to date from the First World War was found in the New Forest.

The alarm was raised by a member of the public who made the discovery while walking between Lyndhurst and the Matley Wood campsite, off the B3056 Beaulieu Road on Monday afternoon.

Police responded, along with an army explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team, whose vehicle was seen parked near the entrance to the Lime Wood Hotel.

The area was cordoned off until the device was removed and made safe. The EOD team reportedly left the scene around 11.15am on Tuesday.

An online post by local police afterwards said: “This area of the Forest was used as a practice range during both world wars and these devices are often turning up.”

Officers also advised that those who find anything which looks like a bomb should not touch it: “Leave it where it is, don’t touch or move it, call the police immediately and use the What3Words app so that you can give us your exact location.”