ARMY bomb disposal experts were called after a Second World War hand grenade was found under the driveway of a house in Stanford-le- Hope.

Brian Metcalfe, 57, made the discovery while digging up his driveway, in Salisbury Avenue, with landscaper Vic Thatcher at 1.30pm yesterday.

Mr Thatcher, 54, of Watlington Road, Benfleet, cracked an old brick to reveal a rusty object, which he picked up without a second thought.

He said: "I tapped the brick with my hammer a few times. It cracked in half and there it was.

"I picked it up then I thought, sugar, it looks like a bleeding hand grenade!' I'm not an expert on these things, but there was a pin on the top, so I showed Brian and he agreed.

"We put it in the wheelie bin and wheeled it around the corner, then Brian phoned the police."

Mr Metcalfe added: "We dug all the flowers up and moved the hardcore before Vic hit the brick and the grenade fell out. It looked rusty and was covered in sand."

The bomb disposal team arrived at about 3pm and took the grenade away after about 15 minutes, so it could be be destroyed in a controlled explosion.

Neighbours and passers-by gathered round the cordoned-off house as the drama unfolded.

Neighbour Michaela East, 52, said: "This is the most exciting thing to have happened since I've been here. We weren't worried. The police told us it was safe."

Tracey Grafton, 39, of Copland Road, said: "When you think how close it is to Stanford Junior School, there could have been kids walking past."

Passer-by Michael Evans, 39, of St John's Way, Corringham, said: "It's a bit shocking.

"You wouldn't be too pleased if your kids found one in the garden."

Mr Metcalfe bought the house new in 1999. It had been built on the former site of a Jehovah's Witnesses' Kingdom Hall.