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A number of families from Wing Road and reportedly Mentmore Road had to leave their properties as police and a bomb squad descended on the street during what had been a quiet day in lockdown.

An "exclusion zone" in Wing Road was created and taped off, while residents were stopped from entering the street via its junctions with Mentmore Road and Cedars Way.

Dr Harry Adam, 74, who lives in Wing Road, told the LBO: “I was sitting with my back to the window, and my wife was looking out when she became aware that there were a lot of people in the street.

"This image shows a bomb disposal operative walking back to his van having made an initial inspection." Photo: Harry Adam.

"I went outside and was told that someone had been digging in their garden and had found a World War Two device!

"We just were really curious. My wife and I weren't being told to evacuate; we were in the area deemed safe. But there were a dozen or so wondering how long they were going to have to stand outside.

"A policeman told us it was a potentially unexploded World War Two device, but later said that it might be a mortar.

"It might've been a watering can, who knows!"

"A shot taken by walking on the road towards the Ship Inn, showing the barrier to entering Wing Road, and where cars were being turned around by the police." Photo: Harry Adam.

After speaking with Dr Adam, the LBO received confirmation from Bedfordshire Police that the device was "most likely a World War Two mortar."

A Bedfordshire Police spokeswoman, said: "We were called just after 3.20pm yesterday (Sunday) by a member of the public who had found a suspect device whilst digging in his garden in Wing Road, Linslade.

"The item was described as a cylinder, around 20cms in length, with a cap on one end, and that it looked old.

"Officers attended the scene, put a 100m cordon in place, and asked residents to evacuate their homes as a precaution until personnel from the EOD arrived.

"This is a view of the exclusion zone showing the tape across the road as I am standing in front of my house." Photo: Harry Adam.

"On arrival, the EOD quickly established that the device was historic and was most likely a WW2 mortar. It was deemed unviable, and therefore not dangerous. They took the item away with them.

"The cordon was lifted around 5.30pm and all householders were allowed to return to their homes."

Talking about other unusual goings-on in town, Dr Adam added: "Last year we had the earthquake when everything seemed to go peculiar and liquid for a few seconds. And we've had floods, you name it.

"It's an exciting place Leighton Buzzard!"

Linslade discovery that caused street evacuation 'likely' to be WW2 mortar