A FORMER Mayor will not face charges over an explosion in a Second World War bunker, police said today.

Colonel John Gillman, 62, was arrested at his home by detectives after the boys, aged 15 and 16, were thought to have accidentally ignited a bucket of gunpowder.

The retired serviceman had served in the Kings Royal Hussars and the Light Dragoons.

He had been questioned on suspicion of causing an explosion with intent to cause grievous bodily harm but the case against him was dropped because of insufficient forensic evidence.