Firefighters felt the earth move as they watched bomb disposal experts blow up a World War Two shell found in a garden shed.
Esher firefighters were called to Apps Court Farm in Walton this morning as a 12-inch round was detonated.
The bomb was found during a clear-out in Chalford Close, West Molesey, and is believed to have been brought back from France about four years ago.
Esher crew commander Andy Sparrows said: "They dug a hole, put it in there and the bomb disposal team came and packed some sand bags around it and explosives and blew it up.
"The ground shook. It was quite a boom."
A Surrey Police spokesman said: "We had a call from a local resident reporting that they had found an unexploded World War Two artillery shell in their neighbour's garden.
"A number of officers attended the scene and established a cordon around the device and neighbours were apprised and advised to keep away from windows until such time as we were able to make the device safe.
"This was a job for the explosive ordnance disposal team, who removed the shell to a safe location in Walton where it was detonated this morning."
Fire crews were called at about 6.45am and the decision to blow up the shell was taken at 8am.
- Did you see the explosion? Send your photos to ellie.cambridge@london.newsquest.co.uk.
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