A loud bang rang out in Welcome Bay this evening as an old mortar round was detonated.

At around 7pm, cordons were put in place in Orion Drive as the Defence Force was called in to detonate an old mortar round.

A police spokesperson says people were evacuated from their properties as a precaution.

"This was a precaution while the Defence Force detonated an old mortar round which was found on a property earlier today.

"The cordon was in place for about half an hour before people were allowed to return to their homes."