Dump site artillery shell a dud - police

An old artillery shell found at a Tauranga rubbish dump today turned out to be a dud, police say.

The solid shot projectile was found in a bin toward the rear of Truman Road transfer station about 12.15pm.

A 150m exclusion zone was set up around the site and the police bomb disposal squad was called in.

A Tauranga police spokesman said the shell was found to be a harmless and was taken away for disposal about 4.30pm.

"It presented no risk to the public but the people that called it through did the right thing," he said.

- NZPA