Bomb disposal experts were called out when an attic clearance uncovered what appeared to be an artillery shell.

Staff at Plumbwell kitchen and bathroom fitters in Trafalgar Street, Brighton, were removing junk from the attic when one unsuspecting worker stumbled across the 14in brass object.

Salesman John Essex said: "He didn't have a clue what it was. He was halfway down the ladder with it before someone told him.

"It was a big shock. He went straight up the ladder to put it back where he found it and ran back downstairs to call the police."

The warehouse was evacuated while a bomb disposal team was called.

The experts quickly realised the object was a training shell and there was no chance of it exploding. Even so, they took the shell away with them.

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said: "It was identical to an ordinary shell but did not carry any gunpowder.

"However, we would always ask people to call the police so we can get bomb disposal experts to examine any suspicious objects properly."

Mr Essex said the junk in the attic had remained untouched for more than 20 years.

He said: "I think the chap who owned it used to live in the flat above the shop and he died 18 months ago. So the shell might have belonged to him."