POLICE officers were called at 11.55am on Monday, after reports were received that a suspected ‘live hand grenade’ had been found in a cardboard box at a recycling centre in Launceston.

Members of staff from the Launceston household waste and recycling centre, in Bangors Road, Pennygillam, found the hand grenade in a cardboard box.

It was described as being ‘very rusty’.

A 100 metre cordon was out in place, and some local roads were closed for a time.

The cordon extended onto Pennygillam Industrial Estate to North Devon Tyres.

The staff and members of the public were evacuated from the site, and the recycling centre was closed.

A Navy bomb disposal unit was called in to carry out a controlled detonation of the device at 2pm.