The bomb squad were called to the propertyLouis Corbett Trainee Reporter and Josh Hartley Senior reporter
13:28, 12 Jan 2026Updated 13:30, 12 Jan 2026
Gardeners who dug up a suspected explosive have thanked their lucky stars after making the shocking discovery.
Nottinghamshire Police cordoned off part of Cavendish Road in Carlton after a suspected shell was found in a garden on the morning of Monday, January 12.
The alarming object was unearthed at around 9am by gardeners who were working in homeowner Michael York’s yard.
Chris Sail of SPS gardening, which had been working at the property, said his colleague Ash Phoenix had found the item.
“My colleague pulled the short straw and got to do the outside. He went to move the soil and he went to put the spade in and pulled the ordnance up,” Mr Sail said.
“It was a bit of a shock when it happened. The chap was down there and he waved to me, said there is a shell down here, come and have a look.
”We were lucky our guys who cleared the area didn’t hit it with their strimmers when they first came out.”
Mr Sail said the gardeners had let the evacuated residents take refuge in their van while the situation was resolved.
“We helped the police evacuate five houses on each side,” he added.
Cavendish Road was closed by police between the junctions of Highgate Close and Wheldon Avenue during the incident, which was resolved at around 12.15pm.
An Explosive Ordnance Disposal team from the Ministry of Defence was called to the scene, with police officers telling neighbours later that they had found a training shell.
Michael York, who owns the property the shell was found in, said: “They found something in the garden, the gentlemen (gardeners) said I could sit in the van to keep warm.
“It’s a pre-war house so I guess these things happen.
“We were on Mapperley Top when we got a call saying we can’t come back.”
Around 10 houses were evacuated, according to the gardeners who were working in the property.
Nottinghamshire Live has contacted the Ministry of Defence for clarification on the nature of the suspected shell.
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