Bomb squad and police called to Teston Bridge Country Park after wartime grenade found
16:32, 16 June 2019
updated: 20:44, 16 June 2019
Police and the army's bomb squad went to a country park after a grenade was fished out of a river.
The incident happened this afternoon at Teston Bridge Country Park, just outside of Maidstone.
Police were called just before 1.30pm and a spokesman described the find as an unexploded wartime device. It was safely detonated by the Army's bomb squad this evening.
The grenade was hauled out of the river by magnet fishers Luke Crofts and Louise Harris, who posted images of their find on social media, accompanied by the description: "Interesting first trip!"
Mr Crofts said he bought the magnet to help fish out debris from the river to try and improve it for the wildlife.
Just before finding the bomb, his son, Harry, 19, pulled out a set of temporary traffic lights and other finds included forks, golf clubs and pocket knives.
Mr Crofts added: "Then the magnet locked on to something really heavy. I could see it was something round and then I realised it was a grenade, most likely a Mills Grenade.
"I immediately called the police and they were telling me that all the time these things stay submerged in the water they are quite safe, but they can go off when they dry out. At first I was quite happy to have discovered something of historical value, but then I just thought "Oh ****, I'm holding on to a bomb."
Mr Crofts and his family, who live in Hoo, remained with police but were told they could go home once emergency teams had cordoned off the area. They are currently with his dad in Maidstone marking Father's Day with their other children Isabelle, seven, and two-year-old Holly.
The army's bomb disposal team arrived just before 4.30pm.
Mr Crofts says his first experience won't stop him returning to the river with his magnet.
