PEOPLE were evacuated from a public park after a live hand grenade was discovered in an archaeological dig.

Without realising the danger, one of the archaeologists, Gary Green, picked it up and took it past groups of children inside a building to report it.

Phil Filo, curator of the James Cook Birthplace Museum, in Stewart Park, Middlesbrough, called police, who advised him to take the rusty device outside and stay away from it until bomb disposal experts arrived.

They carried out a controlled explosion at 2pm yesterday, adding a bit of drama to a Tees Archaeology project to learn more about the East Marton village where the famous explorer was born.

Mr Filo said: "I cannot believe he actually brought it all the way upstairs and inside.

"It is a bit sobering really when you are so close to something like that.

"Next time they find something, they will come and get me to have a look at it outside. I hope so anyway."

Police closed the park and cordoned off the area so it could be inspected by experts, who decided it was not safe to move.

The grenade, thought to be from the First World War, was discovered by volunteer digger Ted Coles, 73, from Acklam.

Mr Coles said: "It looked like a lump of scrap iron, so I cannot believe it has caused all this fuss."