BOMB disposal experts were called to a house in Ystradgynlais after a walking enthusiast mistakenly brought home an unexploded Second World War mortar.

Experts from the Royal Logistics Core were called and the area had to be sealed off after Alex Birtwisle, 38, returned home with the two-inch highly explosive bomb after a walk in the Black Mountain area of the Brecon Beacons.

After thinking the piece of metal was part of an old fighter plane, Mr Birtwisle was shocked to find he had brought home something far more dangerous.

The civil engineer said: "I was walking by the river Tawe by Trecastle Road and saw a piece of metal which had been washed onto the riverbank.

"I took it home and started to clean it up in the utility room but after noticing the fin on the object, I looked on the internet and realised it may have been a bomb."

After phoning the police, Mr Birtwisle gently took the mortar to his back garden where he waited for a bomb disposal squad from Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, to arrive.

Police cordoned off the house and warned him and his neighbours to stay indoors in case the mortar went off.

The two disposal experts arrived at Mr Birtwisle's home at around 8pm and quickly left with the dangerous package.

"The neighbours have said it was the most excitement they have seen in years. One family from next door stuck a piece of paper on our front window saying "boom", he said.

"When the experts turned up, they confirmed it was a mortar and packed it into their van, they were only here for five minutes.

"I was quite happy though, I didn't want to justify a huge crater in the garden to my girlfriend Sarah.

"She had come home from work just as I was calling the police.

"There were a few blue words when she got home and I was told never to pick up anything on my walks ever again."

"However, the bizarre comedy of the situation made it all fine."

A spokesman for the Royal Logistic Core said: "The 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment 721 Squadron Royal Logistics Core removed a two- inch mortar bomb categorised as highly explosive."