ARTILLERY shells were left outside York Police Station for five days before an officer realised what they were and raised the alarm, The Press has learned.

Last week Fulford Road police station was evacuated for more than two hours, and a 100 metre cordon put in place, after two shells were discovered on the site and bomb disposal experts were called in.

It has since emerged a member of the public had brought them in some five days earlier, and they were left near to the back door of the station for disposal.

But the building was entirely evacuated - and detainees transported from York into custody in Harrogate - when an officer found the shells some five days later and raised the alarm.

An Army bomb disposal team took what police described as "historic artillery shells" to dispose of.

A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: “The devices were handed into the front office at Fulford Road police station by a member of the public. They were then placed outside in the grounds of the police station for disposal.

"The devices were later found by an officer on Monday, January 19, who, on realising what they were, raised the alarm.

“A full debrief will be carried out.”

Julia Mulligan, police and crime commissioner for North Yorkshire said it was crucial security was constantly reviewed.

She said: "The safety and security of police officers and staff is of the utmost importance, and the public will be all too aware of potential threats to officers following recent events in Paris. In the current climate it is absolutely right that North Yorkshire Police constantly review and update our security arrangements on a regular basis.”

A police source, who asked not to be named, said: "I believe questions need to be asked as a lot of potentially dangerous mistakes seem to have been made and, given the current climate, it seems laughable that such a huge oversight could be committed by a Police Force who are responsible for protecting the public."

After looking at a photograph of the shells, specialists at the Regimental Headquarters of The Yorkshire Regiment in York have speculated the shells could be tank drill rounds used for Army training at the time of the Second World War and, if so, may not have contained explosives.