A first world war artillery shell has been found by a fisherman in Oxford with the bomb squad called to deal with the historic weapon.

Thames Valley Police said the bomb squad - Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) - dealt with the discarded first world war shell after being called to an area near Folly Bridge at 4:20pm yesterday, Sunday, October 15.

A cordon was put in place near the bridge over the River Thames and the locks were temporarily closed. The police cordon had been lifted by 2:30am this morning, Monday, October 16. 

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A fisherman with the Thame Magnet Fishing group caught the shell near the Gasworks bridge along the River Thames. 

Oxford Mail: WW1 artillery shell found in River Thames in Oxford

A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said: "We were called to an incident at 4.20pm yesterday after reports of historic ordnance being located by in the River Thames.

"The ordnance was a discarded WW1 shell and it was dealt with by EOD, who attended, packaged the item and removed."

"A small cordon was in place around the incident while it was being dealt with and this was lifted in the early hours of this morning."