AN UNEXPLODED Second World War grenade has been discovered by workmen in the grounds of a Tudor mansion.

Bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion after labourers stumbled upon the anti-aircraft shell near Hall Place in Bexley.

A 200m exclusion zone was thrown round the area when they found it while working on a new car park near the Grade One-listed building, in Bourne Road.

The 16th Century house, which is undergoing extensive restoration work, was not damaged and no-one was injured.

Firefighters from Bexley, Lewisham and Erith were called at about 4pm on Tuesday.

A fireman at Bexley station said: "The experts attached a small charge with a trail and managed to detonate the device pretty quickly. It went off with quite a bang but luckily there was no real damage caused."

He added that workmen are now able to continue the restoration project.