A fishmonger in southern China was certainly left shellshocked as he gutted a squid on his market stall only to discover a live bomb inside.

The device, which was eight inches long, had been eaten by the squid, which itself measured more than three feet.

The fishmonger, who only gave his name Mr Huang, spoke of his consternation to the local Guangzhou Daily newspaper. He said that his knife hit the metal of the bomb whilst he was already gutting the fish.

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“This sort of squid lives close to the shore and normally makes a meal of small fish and prawns,” he explained. “Perhaps he thought the bomb was his favourite food and gulped it down. He certainly had a big belly when he was caught.”

Police attended the scene quickly and removed the bomb to carry out a controlled explosion. From the ageing of the bomb, with its rusty exterior, forces were shocked it hadn’t already detonated.

The explosive is thought to have weighed around three pounds.