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A teenage treasure hunter found more than he bargained for after discovering a massive stash of deadly weapons.

James Cork was out with his metal detector searching for bits of old scrap when he snagged a haul quite like any other - a suspected IRA weapons dump.

James, 16, was taking part in magnet fishing, a hobby he started six months ago, and began combing Greylake on the Somerset Levels with a rope and strong magnet.

Along with a pal, James suddenly got a catch but was stunned when he came across the 40-strong haul of weapons.

He said: "I was shocked. I’ve never found anything like this before. There were a few whole weapons, but not many. Some were machine guns, pistols and revolvers. And there was a massive machine gun on a stand.”

(Image: The Sun / News Syndication)

A stunned fisherman came over and helped the boys after spotting what they had found.

Among the haul were parts of a Nazi MG 42 light machine gun and a Czech SA23 9mm submachine gun.

After making their shocking discovery, the two pals threw most of the weapons back in the water, but James kept one - a 1930s Smith & Wesson - home to play with.

His stunned mother then saw the teenager playing with the weapon and immediately called police.

Katherine, James’ mother, told how she stresses that nothing illegal is allowed in the house.

She said: "But I didn’t think I’d be dealing with one of my kids holding a gun. I said, “Bring it downstairs, leave it in the kitchen and don’t touch it”.”

After police were called, officers dredged the river the following day to recover the rest of the weapons.

(Image: The Sun / News Syndication)

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: "None of the weapons were complete, and they were extremely rusty and very old. All of the weapon parts have been or are being destroyed."

Experts today claimed the weapons could have been used by the IRA during The Troubles, but they may have been dumped when paramilitaries were meant to be declaring arms in 2001.

Former SAS sergeant Andy McNab said the fact that some of the weapons had large machine gun barrels, meant it could be the IRA.

He said: "This must be a terrorist bundle. That’s because there are weapons for various ranges — from close assassination ones to the Browning that could take out a helicopter or Land Rover."