Bomb disposal officers were called after a cache of 80 grenades was discovered on a building site in Eastbourne.

This morning Sussex Police were called to the site just south of the Rodmill roundabout at Ratton, Eastbourne, were 80 incendinary grenades had been discovered. 

One of the grenades had exploded but no one was hurt. 

Explosive Ordnance Disposal experts from Folkestone attended and during the afternoon carried out a controlled explosion to destroy 80 grenades.

During this activity the A2021 Kings Drive was closed to pedestrians and traffic between its junction with King's Avenue and the Rodmill roundabout outside Eastbourne District General Hospital.

Local householders were warned to expect the explosion by Police Community Support Officers and council workers knocking on doors beforehand.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "They were marked 'AW Bomb 1940'. The bombs are thought to have been phosphorus incendiary grenades created as improvised anti-tank weapons when Britain was facing invasion following the army's evacuation from Dunkirk in 1940.

"They were made by chemical company Albright & Wilson in the form of bottles filled with incendiary liquid."