BOMB disposal experts were called in after a Second World War mortar was discovered in Merstham.
Police were alerted to the discovery of a suspicious object off Warwick Wold Road, on the Merstham/Bletchingley border, shortly before 7.20am last Thursday.
Officers closed off the road and created a 50-metre cordon around the area, evacuating nearby houses and businesses.
The Army's bomb disposal team was called in to deal with the device, which was identified as a mortar shell – the type dropped on Surrey by German bombers during the war.
With officers diverting traffic, the bomb experts carried out a controlled detonation of the device.
The ensuing blast was heard as far away as Reigate, according to residents on Twitter.
Alan Rogers, who lives in Merstham village, told the Mirror he recognised the blast from hearing IRA bombings in London during his youth.
He said: "I didn't know, at the time, what the hell had caused it. There was a heck of a bang, it shook the house slightly and shook me more. I wasn't expecting it."
He added: "This is a village, we don't expect things like that."
Warwick Wold Road was closed from the junction with Bletchingley Road to the junction with Rockshaw Road while the explosive ordnance disposal experts travelled to the area and dealt with the device.
They carried out the controlled explosion at around 11am.
Phil Brown, of Warwick Wold Waters fisheries was just outside the cordon. He told the Mirror: "The first I knew of it was when my fishermen came in and said they had been diverted off the road because it was closed and they had to go through Merstham.
"I did hear the bang when they exploded it but I thought it was a tyre bursting on a lorry on the motorway. It was a very deep thud."
Surrey Police spokeswoman Dawn Groom said: "Officers were called to Warwick Wold Road, Bletchingley following the discovery of a suspicious device at the location. A 50-metre cordon was put in place with nearby properties evacuated."
She added: "The device, which is believed to be a Second World War mortar shell, was disposed of during a controlled explosion by Explosive Ordnance Disposal."
