A controlled explosion of a shell found at the East Kent Ploughing Match has been carried out by experts.

Bomb disposal teams and police were called the event at Grange Farm, Mill Lane, in Nonington, at 11.20am after an unexploded mortar was found in a field.

The shell, larger than a mobile phone, is thought to have been discovered by a stall holder under a van.

Victoria Sharples, 29, from Ramsgate, was among the thousands attending the ploughing match.

She and her mum, Sheila, witnessed the explosion after 1pm.

She said: “A man from the disposal team came and picked it up, put it in a box and carried it to a neighbouring field.

“About 20 minutes later we heard the explosion.

“It was quite loud, like a dull pop, and there was a bit of smoke.”

A small section of the stalls were cordoned off while the incident was dealt with. The ploughing match, which is in its 72nd year, has now continued.

Kevin Clayson, 55, from Hawkinge, said: “Less than a quarter of the show was cordoned off. They’ve taken all the tape down now and we’re back to normal.”

A police spokesman said: "We were called to farmland in Mill Lane, Nonnington at 11.20am today (Wednesday, 28 September) following a report that an unexploded mortar had been found at a ploughing match.

“The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) were in attendance and the detonation was completed at 1.31pm today (Sep 28)."