Ledbury-based writer and pensioner Emilio Ponti has just returned from his native Italy, where the sales of two of his Italian-language novels have gone to support the hospital service there.
Mr Ponti, of Queen's Court, said: "Now I shall have to write some in English for the hospitals here."
During his visit, Mr Ponti was told an alarming tale concerning unexploded bombs off the coast of Ambruzzi, in Central Italy, a drama that involved his own nephew Mario Boldrini.
Mr Ponti said: "While he was swimming in deep water he discovered, at about 15 metres from the beach and a depth of five metres, a large bomb and quantity of smaller bombs and grenades."
The authorities were alerted and the ordinance was disposed of, making newspaper headlines in Italy.
It is not known whether the bombs were from the Second World War or more recent.
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