A construction worker’s evening of magnet fishing took an unusual turn when he pulled a wartime shell out of the water, sparking the arrival of bomb disposal experts.

Anton Eiffert and his partner Karen Hollands were trying out the hobby – which is similar to metal detecting – for only the third time on Monday in the River Medway at Fairmeadow, Maidstone.

They threw the 100kg magnet under the bridge hoping to pick up some old coins or other rare memorabilia, when it became apparent Mr Eiffert, 32, had found something.

“I could tell it was something strange as soon as I saw it come out the water and when I looked a bit closer I realised it was some sort of artillery shell,” he said.

“It probably weighed about a kilogram so it was quite heavy but not so much that I couldn’t pull it out myself.

“I didn’t want to ring the police straight away and waste their time but we soon realised what it was and we weren’t sure whether it was live or not – it was a bit scary at one point.

“I’ve always been interested in history anyway and it’s funny that this is only the third time we’ve done it and we’ve found something like that.

“Some people who are into magnet fishing can go tens of years without finding anything like this.

“It certainly hasn’t put us off. If anything we’re looking forward to trying it out again even more after this.”

Mr Eiffert added that he is looking to keep the shell for himself, if it is deemed safe to do so.

Police confirmed the device was found close to the river at Fairmeadow at about 6.50pm.

A force spokesman said: “Images of the object were sent by officers to a Ministry of Defence Explosives Ordnance Disposal team and it has subsequently been assessed as a World War Two incendiary device.”

A road closure was in place before a disposal team arrived.