A SPOT of gardening in the early spring sunshine became a drama for a North-East family.

Daffodils and crocuses have added a splash of colour to verges and flower beds in Patrick Brompton, in Wensleydale - but found nestling in the leafy debris under a shrub in one garden in the village was a grenade.

The Army's bomb disposal squad was summoned from nearby Catterick Garrison, and the weapon - since identified as a replica - was swiftly removed .

"The unit responded because the description they were given was spot on for a grenade," said an Army spokesman yesterday.

"However, once they were at the scene, it was soon obvious the grenade was much too small to be real. It proved to be a replica mounted on a plinth."

However, the lady who reported the find still won the Army's praise.

"She did exactly the right thing. It's not a good idea to mess about with things like this. It is always better to alert the emergency services and let the experts deal with them," said the spokesman.