A grenade found in a field by landscape workers was safely detonated as a busy County Durham road was closed for three hours today. 

Emergency services were alerted to the discovery of a rusty unexploded grenade in a field next to the A167 Park Road North, in Chester-le-Street, shortly after noon today (Friday, August 9). 

Police closed the road in both directions, between Picktree Lane and Ropery Lane, while the bomb squad was called out. The northbound slip road at Junction 63 on the A1(M) was also closed.

The grenade was safely detonated before police reopened the road shortly after 3pm. 

A Durham Police spokesperson said: "A section of the A167 Park Road North in Chester-le-Street was closed for three hours today following the discovery of potential unexploded ordnance.

Get more from The Northern Echo with a digital subscription. Get access for 6 months for just £6, or get 50% off an annual subscription with our latest offer. Click here.

"At approximately 12:15 today, workmen carrying our landscaping works in the area discovered what appeared to be a rusted hand grenade which required safe disposal.

"The discovery was in a field next to the road and a safety cordon was put in place which required the closure of the road in both directions.

"Explosive ordnance disposal experts carried out a safe detonation of the device and the road was reopened shortly after 3pm."