Bomb squad disposes of WA explosives

Bomb squad officers have safely detonated explosives found in the back shed of a house in Western Australia's Goldfields region.

Police were called to the property on Wortley Street in the Kalgoorlie suburb of Somerville on Tuesday afternoon after old and unstable sticks of gelignite were discovered.

The house was cordoned off overnight and nearby properties were evacuated.

The TRG Bomb Response Unit arrived at the scene on Wednesday morning and declared the area safe by the afternoon.

A robot was used to remove the explosives from the shed but because they continued to deteriorate, a bomb technician moved them to a containment pit where they were detonated.

A WA Police spokesman said it was likely they were from a mining operation.