A World War Two-era mortar was safely detonated by an Army bomb disposal team after being discovered by a metal detectorist in a field near Ullswater.
Eden police were called at 6.08pm on Sunday, August 16, after a visitor using a metal detector discovered the suspected mortar.
Officers attended the location and put a cordon in place while an Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team was called from Catterick.
The mortar was detonated at around 9.15pm in a field selected by the Army team, with the consent of the landowner.
Eden police said the disposal was carried out safely and apologised to anyone who may have been startled by the explosion.
A video of the controlled explosion has been obtained by Penrith Town News and shows the moment the mortar was detonated.
Police have reminded members of the public not to touch or move any suspected unexploded ordnance if they come across it.
Eden police said: “If anyone has a similar experience, please don’t handle the item and call 999.
“We will then attend and ensure any disposal can be arranged safely.”
The discovery highlights the potential for historic military ordnance to remain undiscovered in areas of the Lake District decades after the Second World War.
Anyone who discovers a suspected shell, mortar or other item of unexploded ordnance should keep away from it and report it to police.
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