WORKERS turning an old Swindon school into flats stumbled upon deadly explosives buried after the Second World War.
Phil Harris is part of a team which has spent around a year getting the unfinished Victorian Sunday School on Maxwell Street ready for a new lease of life as a block of flats.
On Friday morning, he and a colleague continued their excavation of the front of the school, which is having the floor lowered to fit more accommodation inside it.
Follow our live blog for the latest updates on the police response.
At around 9.30am, the digger rubbed against the lid of something which was approximately 600mm below ground - and would have blown up instantly if broken.
Phil told the Adver: "We’ve done 75 per cent of the floor and found a fossil and other bits and pieces, but nothing dangerous until now.
"My colleague's digger hit the lid of what we thought were either old milk bottles or an old form of fire extinguisher where you could just throw them at a fire and the liquid inside would put it out.
"So I picked around 15 of them up, wearing gloves, and moved them into the car park - then noticed rusted metal hinges and a sign."
The sign reads: "PRECAUTIONS: AW Bombs fire instantly on br-[illegible] in air. If fire is started accidentally, use water freely.
"Store bombs (preferably in cases) in cool place, under water if possible. Do not store near inflammable material.
"Avoid storing many bombs close together if possible.
"Stringent precautions must be taken to avoid cracking bombs during handling. The caps must never be removed."
AW Bombs are yellow phosphorous hand grenades in half pint clear glass bottles weighing 1.5lbs each, which ignite instantly once their liquid contents react with the outside air.
Alarmed at this discovery, the pair went to the Territorial Army centre for advice and called the police at 10am.
Phil added: "The bottles didn't break, which was a relief, though there was a slight smell of sulphur.
"The police asked us to send pictures before they came out. We continued working and then they arrived and told us to stop.
READ MORE: Army personnel seen entering old school building
"Now they've closed the street off and are checking to see if there are any more bombs. Perhaps the Home Guard used to meet there and didn't know what to do with the grenades after the war ended.
“I certainly am surprised, and a bit alarmed, but in 25 years, it's a first - and hopefully the last.
"The box must have completely rotted away. My car is parked outside the school so I'm stuck here until the street reopens, but oh well. As long as we get back in time for the England game."
Army personnel and police officers have blocked off access to Maxwell Street and have advised residents to stay indoors for the rest of the afternoon.
The bomb squad has been called to the scene and a 100 metre cordon is in place.
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