A SUSPECTED unexploded bomb brought traffic to a standstill in Puddletown... until it was declared to be a stage prop.

New residents Gary and Amanda Callow were sorting out their new home at The Moor when they found what they thought was TNT dynamite.

They called Dorset Police, who requested help from a bomb disposal unit at Tidworth. A 100-metre zone around the cottage was closed off and nearby residents evacuated.

The Blue Vinny pub, opposite the cottages along The Moor, provided an emergency shelter from 9.30am until 12.30pm.

Landlord Mark Teed said: "One of the cottages opposite found what looked like TNT dynamite with a detonator attached to it. Some people had just moved into the house and were having a look around it when they found it.

"All the roads were closed off and there was a 100-metre exclusion zone."

The false alarm caused a blockade that held traffic up for two hours in the village on Saturday.

Shirley and Victor Smith were among the residents evacuated.

Mrs Smith said: "It was all a big hoo-ha about nothing, but it was all very exciting. Gary was just clearing out the outhouse and this bomb' fell onto his lap, it looked incredibly realistic to him.

"The police were really good and kept us informed, they closed the roads all around and got ready to do a controlled explosion but I didn't hear any bangs.

"The last thing they told us was the X-ray didn't show if it was gelignite, dynamite or a stage prop, but then a police woman said it was a stage prop."

She added: "We were all evacuated to the pub. We took the dog and the cat because the police said they just didn't know what it was. Mark at the Blue Vinny was excellent."