Grenade found near Gatwick Airport (From Oxford Mail)

Grenade found near Gatwick Airport

4:40pm Tuesday 9th August 2011 in National News © Press Association 2013

A suspected Second World War hand grenade has been found by workers digging near Gatwick Airport.

Bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion on the device close to the railway station of the West Sussex airport.

Planes were temporarily grounded as the grenade, discovered by UK Power Networks staff, was made safe by Explosive Ordnance Division operators. Train services were also halted.

A Gatwick Airport spokeswoman said: "A construction company working near the airport found what looked like a Second World War grenade when they were digging.

"British Transport Police cordoned off the area as a precaution and the Explosive Ordnance Division carried out a controlled explosion at 3.30pm.

"It is now safe. Flights were not allowed to take off or land for about 10 to 15 minutes so there was a slight delay to services, but it was minimal."

A British Transport Police spokesman said: "British Transport Police (BTP) officers were called to Gatwick Airport railway station, at 1.06pm today, Tuesday August 9, after the discovery of what is believed to be a WW2 grenade.

"The device was discovered on the lower ring road by a construction worker who was working on a piece of land there.

"BTP officers attended alongside colleagues from Sussex Police, and trains were stopped for eight minutes whilst officers carried out a controlled explosion of the device."

Inspector Gary Ancell of BTP said: "No members of the public were in any danger at any time and the incident caused only very minor delays."