Army bomb disposal experts disarmed a live hand grenade at a house in West Watford after it was dug up by builders this afternoon.

Residents were evacuated by police who set up a 100-metre perimeter around the property after the device was uncovered in Burton Avenue at about 4pm.

Officers also sealed off the adjacent road Southsea Avenue while army experts dealt with the explosive.

Hertfordshire Constabulary representative Olivia Finucane said the grenade had been discovered in the garden of the unoccupied house by builders carrying out renovation work there.

She said: “We think it belonged to the previous occupants who had hoarded a large amount of artefacts in their garden shed. It is actually not that uncommon for these sorts of things to be discovered and on average there is probably four or five found every year across the county.”

Road closures were lifted by police at 4.50pm.