Part of Stratford Park in Stroud has been cordoned off after a hand grenade was found earlier today. 

Officers were called to Stratford Park, which is run by Stroud District Council, at around 1pm today when a member of the public found the rusty grenade in the soil near the lake. 

A section of the park was cordoned off and the Royal Logistic Corps Bomb Disposal unit from Ashchurch near Tewkesbury attended the incident. 

Officers from the unit are believed to have carried out a controlled explosion as a loud bang was heard around 30 minutes ago. 

The explosive device was confirmed to be a Mills bomb, which were the first modern fragmentation grenades used by the British Army in the First and Second World Wars.

An SDC spokesman said: “As a safety precaution, Gloucestershire Police have cordoned off part of Stratford Park, following reports of an old grenade found in the ground.

"We are working alongside officers to ensure everyone’s safety, and until the area is made safe members of the public must stay away from the area.”

All photos by Simon Pizzey.