THREE potentially-deadly wartime shells were found on the Yorkshire moors.
One of the bombs was found by a fell runner out on a training run and the other two were found by members of Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team who were called to help.
All three were found to be live and considered dangerous, and were taken away by Army bomb disposal experts.
Now rescue team leaders have urged people visiting the moors: Don’t touch them if you find one.
The Hepworth-based team were called on Monday by a man who had noticed what looked like a military shell while running on the moors above Langsett, close to Penistone.
South Yorkshire Police asked the Woodhead team to investigate and they found the shell.
A search then uncovered two more which were later identified by experts as 75mm armour-piercing shells dating back to pre-World War II.
Team Member Duncan Sissons said: “We were fortunate that the runner provided an excellent description of where the shell was and we found it right away.
“However, experience tells us these things never pop up alone and we found another two shells. They were exceptionally volatile and had someone picked them up they could have exploded at any time.
“Given the size of the shells they could have caused serious injury not only to the person who picked them up but to anyone close by.”
The moors above Langsett were used as a firing range between both world wars and unexploded ordnance is often found at the end of winter as the shells are forced to the surface from the movement of the peat bogs.
Woodhead team leader Keith Wakeley said: “Anyone who finds a suspicious object in the Peak District should contact police immediately.
“Under no circumstances should anyone go near it or touch it as the devices are known to be volatile and could cause serious injury.”
