Lincolnshire Police announced that a 100m cordon had been put in place, the road closed and staff and the public evacuated from the site after empty mortar shells were found at the recycling centre on Pride Parkway shortly before midday today (Friday, April 3).
A police spokesperson said earlier: “The site as well as nearby businesses have been evacuated as a precaution, and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit are on their way to collect and dispose of the shells properly. Please avoid the area.”
Police later said the shells had been disposed of by the EOD team.
A spokesperson for site owners Lincolnshire County Council said the situation had been resolved and the HWRC had reopened just before 3pm. Police confirmed the shells had been removed and there was no risk.
The spokesperson previously told the Sleaford Standard that the ammunition had been found in a scrap metal container shortly before midday. He said: "Police do not believe there is any danger to the public but we have shut the site as a precaution."
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Police have put a 100 metre cordon in place around Sleaford HWRC. Photo: AH