AN Army Logistics Corps team was called to a residential street last night after fears that a war-time relic may be a live shell.

The specialist crew from Catterick Garrison, in North Yorkshire, was alerted by police after they received a call from a householder in Pity Me, on the outskirts of Durham.

The man reported finding what he thought may be an old shell during a clear-out of his house, in The Avenue.

But, with neighbours looking on and police keeping watch, the all-clear was given shortly after the Army team arrived to examine the "find" last night.

On closer inspection, the shell was said to be a "dummy round" to test the bore hole on a large gun, and was never live.

A Durham Police spokesman said as a precaution officers were in place to clear the area if needed, but the stand down was given at about 7.15pm.

"The chap rang to say he had found it while having a clear out and he last remembered it from his younger days having been in the family around 25 years ago," he said.

"He thought it had been disposed of and so, as a precaution, rang our local communications office.

"We called in the logistics team, who have looked at it and confirmed it was only ever used for testing and was a dummy round."

The Army crew left with the shell to carry out disposal later.