A road was cordoned off and a bomb squad was sent to a village after ammunition and a replica grenade were found at an unoccupied home.

Homes in Belgrave Street, Eccles, near Aylesford, were evacuated while the emergency services dealt with the situation.

One resident said: "A grenade has been found in a garden so half the street has been evacuated."

While another who lives on the street told KentOnline: "My wife rang me and said they found a 'bomb'.

"The police have cordoned off and evacuated the street by the sounds of it."

A shop worker at Eccles Village Store in Varnes Street said: "I've only just heard police have cordoned off the road and are searching a house.

"I live down that road and was going to get my lunch, but I don't know what I'll do now."

Police confirmed they were called at around 9.15am to reports ammunition and a suspected grenade had been found at an unoccupied property.

A police spokesman added: "Officers and a Ministry of Defence bomb disposal team attended the address where the grenade was found to be a replica.

"The ammunition and replica grenade have been removed from the premises."

Police left just after midday.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “We can confirm an Army EOD team from Shorncliffe Troop attended an address on Belgrave Street, Eccles, at the request of Kent Police.

“The team identified a replica grenade hand No 36 and various small arms ammunition which were all recovered from the scene for subsequent disposal."