ARMY bomb disposal experts were called to a Stourport caravan park after an unexploded Second World War hand grenade was discovered by a builder.

Handyman Ernest Watkins was digging at Winnall Caravan Park, Lincomb Lane, when he came across the American explosive which had lain undisturbed for around 60 years.

The park owners contacted Kidderminster Police and after officers visited the site and cordoned off the area, bomb disposal experts were summoned from Tewkesbury.

After examining the device, members of the bomb disposal squad decided the grenade was safe and removed it.

Caravan park co-owner Trevor Roberts said Mr Watkins was digging up earth to put down some steps and had dug down around a foot when he came across the grenade.

"He put it to one side and carried on working," said Mr Roberts.

"It had been there for 60 years and we've been over it with lawnmowers I don't know how many times."

It wasn't until the following day, last Wednesday at 1.40pm, that caravan park owners decided to contact Kidderminster Police.

Officers cordoned the immediate area off and asked the proprietors to keep the dozen or so park residents away from the scene.

Mr Roberts said: "It was an American grenade. This site was used by the American army at the end of the last war in practice for D-Day.

"We've been here 23 years and we must have turned over thousands of tons of soil but we've never come across anything like this before."