EXPLOSIVE teams were sent into a quiet corner of the Vale and homes were evacuated as an investigation was held into the discovery of an artillery shell.

‘Specialist bomb disposal experts’ were sent just miles away from the MOD site in St Athan and Cardiff Airport to investigate the discover of a six-pound shell discovered in Llantwit Major.

On June 20, with the assistance of South Wales Police, MOD personnel went in to the town’s Manor Park.

The bomb disposal experts were there for a number of hours, with police notifying the public at 11.55am that a cordon had been set up, saying: “A number of properties within the cordon are being evacuated as a precaution.”

Six pound shell; 'highly explosive'Six pound shell; 'highly explosive' (Image: greatwarforum.org/ tankmuseum.org)

Around 10 homes were evacuated while the bomb experts carried out their work.

It wasn’t until 1.55pm that the shell was removed.

A US-built 57mm M1A1 or M1A2 copy anti-tank gun a six pund shell could have been used in. Photo date: Western Desert, November 1942.A US-built 57mm M1A1 or M1A2 copy anti-tank gun a six pund shell could have been used in. Photo date: Western Desert, November 1942. (Image: UK Gov)

The incident happened in Llantwit MajorThe incident happened in Llantwit Major (Image: Google Maps)

An MOD spokesperson has now revealed exactly what was found in Manor Park, saying: “One six pound shell was safely removed by the EOD team.”

Six pound shells come with various capabilities including ‘solid shot’, and ‘armour piercing’.

The MOD spokesperson added: “Six pound shells were used during WW2 and later. Several variants were produced including high explosive, ‘solid shot’, and armour piercing.”