The antique explosive was discovered during groundwork on Saturday (February 6) by the owner of the property, who did not want to be identified.

Specialist police search advisor Kevin Williams identified the badly-corroded weapon but it remains a mystery how it came to be buried there.

After taking advice from a military explosives ordnance officer, police safely removed the grenade and plan to destroy it.

A police spokesman said that, due to the spot where the grenade was found, it had posed no danger to residents or the public.

Mr Williams said: 'The resident who discovered this grenade acted in an entirely appropriate manner by calling police.

'I would remind people that items of explosive ordnance, historical or otherwise, pose a potential risk to life and should not be handled under any circumstances.

'Should someone find something they suspect to be an item of explosive ordnance, they should leave it where they found it.

'They should contact the Emergency Services Joint Control Room immediately, who will send a specialist officer to deal with it.'