Printer Andy Jarred got more than he bargained for when he decided to tidy up his firm's back garden.

First he unearthed a pile of bones and then his shovel hit an unexploded bomb.

Mr Jarred said he immediately recognised what the rusting 8-inch object was but it did not stop him picking it up and cleaning it.

When police were alerted, they took the find more seriously and sealed off the lower half of Station Road, Portslade until they were satisfied there was no risk.

The cordon was lifted a short time later and the shell was left in the garden behind CM Print's office for collection by army bomb disposal experts.

Mr Jarred said: "We had an extension built at the back and, if the shell was going to explode, the vibration from the building work would have set it off then.

"The police were more concerned about it than I was and did not want me picking it up again.

"They had a look at the bones as well and thought they were from a dog someone had buried in the garden."

Inspector Beryl Bacon said: "We had to close off the road as a precaution which caused a bit of chaos with traffic.

"It is possibly a Second World War shell but we will not know until the bomb disposal people have had a look at it.

"Although it may look harmless, people should never handle anything they suspect is an unexploded device.

"They should call us immediately and we will arrange for it to be disposed of safely."