BOMB disposal experts were called to a Wiltshire village on Monday after a farmer found a suspected explosive device on his land.

Graham Reid discovered the rusty device, which was 10 inches long and 1.5in in diameter, in a field at Sandhill Farm, Long-bridge Deverill, but officers from Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) took the device away after confirming it was not dangerous.

Mr Reid said: "I was walking across the field and found this thing that looked a bit suspicious. The farm is a former army camp so we sometimes find these sorts of things.

"I was not there when the bomb squad came, but they said it was a crow scarer. I was surprised because I've never seen anything like that before. I didn't want to put it in the dustbin in case it blew up."

A EOD spokesman said: "Even if a device does not appear dangerous we encourage people to phone the police. It is better to be safe in these situations."