A BEACH cleaner has told of the moment he realised he had unknowingly kicked a live hand grenade down the sands.

Once he realised what he thought was a stone was actually a Second World War grenade, John O’Neill, 53, raised the alarm at Seaton Carew, Hartlepool earlier today, Tuesday, May 14.

Army bomb disposal experts from Catterick, North Yorkshire, blew the explosive up shortly before midday.

The area had been cordoned off since Mr O’Neill discovered the device, which was missing its safety equipment, at about 9.50am.

Mr O’Neill, an environmental operative at Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “I was on general duties, litter picking, when I gave a stone a kick. It looked unusual and I put the baton to it and picked it up and said to myself, ‘that’s a hand grenade'."

"I got in touch with my supervisor on the radio immediately and the police and everyone were called.

The Northern Echo:
Army bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion on the hand grenade

“I released I could have lost my leg. It was really rusted on to the rock but it had that distinctive pattern.

"The police were here pretty quick and took photographs to send to the army. I’d say it was only about 200 metres from the Front. There’s been contractors doing building work and turned the sand over and I guess that might have exposed it.”

Bomb disposal experts took the grenade 100 metres closer to the sea, by the low tide line, partially buried it, and blew it up.

An eyewitness said: “It was no louder than a firework. There was a bit of sand flying up and that was it, all over.”

Cleveland Police removed the cordons shortly afterwards.

A spokeswoman for the force said: “The beach has been reopened. Police would like to thank members of the public for their co-operation while this section of the beach was closed.”