AN unexploded World War II shell which was used as a doorstop for 60 years has been removed by bomb disposal experts from a New Malden house.

The bomb's owner Betty Johnson inherited it 50 years ago from the previous owner of her house in Knightwood Crescent, who had been using it to prop open the door of the garden shed for about a decade.

"I never really thought much of it, I thought if it had lasted ten years, it was probably dead," she said.

"A friend of mine came around recently and got really quite funny about it, and it's been on my mind ever since. I thought I'd better get someone to take a look."

Mrs Johnson called police and had two visits from officers before bomb disposal experts from central London came to collect the bomb last weekend.

"They seemed very interested in what kind of shell it was, and asked if they could take it away. I asked him not to bring it near the house, and he said Quite right too, madam."

They took it away with flashing lights - the neighbours came out to see what was going on and why I had all these visitors."

Mrs Johnson will now wait to hear what kind of bomb it is, and whether it was at any risk of exploding.