Couple who kept a live BOMB as a garden ornament since 1982 are left devastated after it’s detonated by disposal unit – and reveal they told squad ‘we’re not leaving, if it goes up we’re going up with it’

A couple who kept a live bomb as a garden ornament since 1982 have been left devastated after it was detonated by a recovery unit.

Sian and Jeffrey Edwards, from Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, thought the bomb was a 'dummy' without any charges before the Ministry of Defense said it had removed a 29kg 'naval projectile' from outside their home.

Mrs Edwards said she hit the bomb – believed to be from the 1800s – with her trowel to remove dirt after gardening.

The couple was visited by the police on Wednesday evening, who said they had seen the bomb and had to alert the Ministry of Defense.

An hour later, the pair were told that the bomb squad would arrive the next day.

Mr Edwards, 77, said: 'I said to the bomb squad: 'We're not leaving the house, we're staying here.' If it goes up, we'll go with it.”

A bomb used as a garden ornament (pictured) was detonated by a recovery unit

Sian and Jeffrey Edwards from Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, thought their bomb was a 'dummy' without any charges

The bomb was removed by a bomb squad after police spotted it in the couple's garden

Tests showed that the bomb was energized with a very small amount of charge

He added: 'It was an old friend. I'm so sorry that poor old thing got blown to bits.'

The bomb was transported to a disused quarry at Walwyn's Castle and buried with five tons of sand and detonated – after tests showed the bomb to be alive with a very small amount of charge.

Mr Edwards said he learned about the bomb's history through the Morris family, whose relatives previously owned the house.

“Royal Navy warships dropped anchor in St Brides Bay and turned their guns on Broad Haven and opened fire,” he said.

“Well, Pop Morris, who was delivering lemonade, went to Broad Haven in his horse and buggy and found the conch.”

The Ministry of Defense said it had removed a 29kg “naval projectile” from the couple's garden

A hole remains in the couple's garden, where the bomb used to be

Mr Edwards said: '[The bomb] was an old friend. I'm so sorry the poor old thing got blown to pieces

Mr Edwards said he learned about the bomb's history through the Morris family, whose relatives previously owned the house

He added: 'He placed it upright in the courtyard and there it remained.'

The MoD said: 'We can confirm that Ashchurch Troop, 721 EOD Sqn, 11 EOD&S Regt RLC responded to a suspicious piece of ammunition at the request of Dyfed-Powys Police on 30 November.

“The EOD team assessed the item and determined it was a 64-pound Navy projectile that was removed from the scene for subsequent explosive demolition.”