Surrey Police is appealing for witnesses after a suspicious box which turned out to contain a small explosive device was discovered on a footpath in Caterham.

The contraption consisted of a small metal box with wires going into a dummy CCTV camera and was discovered attached to a tree on a public footpath which runs between Crescent Drive and the A22 Caterham Bypass at around 2pm yesterday (Thursday 12 February).

Officers attended the location and removed the camera and box and took it to Caterham police station. Further examination revealed that it contained a small improvised explosive device based around a firework.

The device was not big enough to cause any significant injury but members of the public are being warned if they find anything similar not to touch it.

Detective Chief Inspector Jon Savell said; "Although the explosive device was small in size we would advise anyone who comes across anything similar not to try and remove it but to contact police immediately. The box we recovered would not have caused any serious injuries but clearly any package containing explosives has the potential to be very dangerous.

"An investigation is underway into how this camera and box came to be in this location and at this stage we are keeping an open mind. We are appealing for any witnesses who may have seen anyone attaching it to the tree or any suspicious activity in the area to come forward.

"In addition we would ask anyone who thinks they may have seen a similar device elsewhere in the local area to contact us as a matter of urgency."

Anyone with information should contact Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222 quoting reference TD/10/697.