Easter Ross man found suspected bomb 10 minutes after using a metal detector for first time
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AN Easter Ross man trying out a metal detector for the first time uncovered what's understood to be an unexploded mortar shell within 10 minutes of switching it on.
Ryan Junor was out with his son Shay (15) and pals Joseph McHendry and Graham Skinner in an area known as the recreation fields in Invergordon yesterday evening to try out the equipment when he made the fateful find.
That triggered a sequence of events which resulted in the police throwing a safety cordon around the area, a bomb disposal unit being summoned and local schools – amongst them nearby Invergordon Academy – being closed for the day.
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Schools in Easter Ross town closed as police cordon off area following discovery
Ryan (39), an offshore worker who lives in neighbouring Alness, said his pal Joseph had got him into the pursuit. He said: "It was my first time ever. Some friends had been into it for a wee while and said it was a good crack.
"We went up to the bomb shelter area to have a look. We found a few coins and then after about 10 minutes I got a signal. I dug down about half a metre and found what looked like a big rusty bottle. At no stage at all did I think it could be a bomb. We dug it out and picked it up. We were going to take it with us. We didn't think it was anything other than some sort of a bottle."
It was at that point he had the notion to post a picture of what had been found to a Facebook page for metal detectorists. Someone suggested that it looked like a Stokes mortar shell.
The Stokes mortar was a British trench mortar designed by Sir Wilfred Stokes. It was issued to the British and U.S. armies during the latter half of the First World War.
Mr Junor said that when he discovered what he was holding could be a shell, he laid it on the ground and notified the authorities. He was able to identify the exact location using an app.
He said he believed it was a good call to close schools as a precaution. He and his pals are all former Invergordon Academy pupils as is his son, who is amongst those getting a day off school today as a result.
He said: "Looking back, we couldn't believe we had handled it. It's a feeling of relief now."
The scene of the find is about 200 metres from Invergordon Academy and close to the town's fire station.
As yet, there has been no official confirmation from police as to exactly what was found although they have described it as "unexploded ordnance".
It's understood a specialist team is on site to handle the situation.
Police have been seen talking to locals living around the area.
