A controlled explosion was carried out this afternoon following the discovery of a Second World War hand grenade.

The device was found at the Battle of Britain Memorial in Capel Le Ferne, near Folkestone, during routine maintenance.

Workers uncovered the 'suspicious' object while installing new gates at the memorial, before calling in emergency teams.

Kent Police and the army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal team attended the site at 1.45pm and erected a cordon around the item as a 'precaution'.

It has now been identified as a Mills 36 anti-personnel bomb, which is a World War Two British hand grenade.

The item was destroyed on site by a controlled explosion.

The Memorial closed for a short period this afternoon to visitors while teams were on site.

An army spokesman said: "We can confirm that during routine maintenance a suspicious object was uncovered at the Capel Le Ferne Battle of Britain Memorial site.

"An Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team were called at approximately 1.45pm and identified the object as a Mills 36 anti-personnel bomb (World War Two British hand grenade).

"The item was destroyed on site by controlled explosion."

Read more: All the latest news from Folkestone