BOMB units swooped on the Hampshire home of a military enthusiast as part of a major police operation.

Christopher Higgins’s home became the centre of an eight-hour search by specialist teams executing a warrant to examine his vast collection of war memorabilia.

The 51-year-old was shocked when he opened the front door to his Dibden Purlieu home to be confronted with scores of police.

The search was sparked by an operation by police in Hertfordshire, where bomb squads were forced to blow up a wartime explosive after discovering a cache of guns, ammunitions and grenades in a garage.

A 48-year-old man was arrested as a result of that search and information was passed to forces across the country, including Hampshire police, who were prompted to look at the situation locally.

Neighbours watched in disbelief as three bomb disposal vans and two police cars descended on their usually quiet street and pulled up in front of Mr Higgins’s house.

But after hours of thorough searching which continued into Saturday evening, bomb experts left his home shaking his hand and praising him on his impressive collection.

Mr Higgins said: “It was all very friendly, they did not know what to expect when they got here, but they saw what we were like and they were totally different. I was happy with the way they treated us. At the end of the search they shook my hand and wished me well when they left. The bomb disposal man was so impressed with my collection he even left me his card.”

Mr Higgins praised Hampshire police for the way the search was conducted.

Some of the wartime relics displayed throughout his home data as far back as the First World War. He and his wife Nicola display them at events in the New Forest to raise money for charity.

His passion for collecting the memorabilia started at the age of seven, when he discovered a 50-calibre bullet case in his dad’s garden. Now the collection contains thousands of pieces of wartime history, with all weapons deactivated.

A spokesman for Hampshire police confirmed that the search was carried out as a result of information received following “separate actions taken by other police forces” but that it was not part of a national operation.

They added: “Hampshire Constabulary consulted colleagues from Hertfordshire police, Thames Valley police and English Heritage about executing a warrant under the Firearms Act 1988 at the address, where the householder co-operated fully.

“A specialist EOD unit was called to examine the artefacts, which were found to be inert. No criminal offences were identified and no arrests were made. We’re grateful for the help and co-operation of the householder.”