Police issue warning after wartime explosive vanishes

Object described as cylindrical and around 3ft long

The shell was discovered in a river by fishermen in Dartford, Kent (Getty Images)

Police in Dartford, Kent, are concerned that someone may have picked up an explosive shell and taken it home.

The shell was discovered in a river by fishermen and left on a wall whilst they contacted the police.

The object disappeared in the time between the phone call and the police arriving and, as a result, an urgent warning has been issued.

The police were contacted at 5.40pm on Sunday evening and arrived at the scene at 5.52pm by which time the shell had vanished. Even after extensive searching of the area the shell has not been found.

Officers are keen to know what has happened to the war relic and to dispose of it safely.

Kent Police Inspector Shona Lowndes said: "Explosives experts have not yet had the opportunity to inspect and assess whether this item is harmless or poses any dangers.

"We cannot discount that someone may have picked it up and perhaps taken it home or left it somewhere else.”

Kent Police have asked that anyone who has seen or heard anything about the item should contact them “immediately".

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit has also been notified and it is thought that the object could be a wartime shell.

The police have described it as cylindrical and around 3ft (1m) long. It was left on a wall near the river.

Anyone who has any information should call Kent Police on 101 and quote reference 22-0969.