Alert as German 'egg' grenade discovered on spit

BOMB disposal experts rushed to Calshot Spit following the discovery of a German hand grenade which could have dated back to the First World War.

The alarm was raised around 2pm last Friday by a person from the Calshot Activities Centre who had found a suspected piece of ordnance just below the high water mark on the spit.

A Lymington coastguard rescue team was first to arrive and set up a 100-metre exclusion zone around the device while awaiting the Portsmouth-based Royal Navy explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) squad.

On arrival, the experts identified the object as an M17 grenade – colloquially known as an egg bomb – which was used by German forces during both world wars.

Although examination confirmed explosives were still present in the grenade, a Lymington Coastguard spokesperson said the EOD team deemed it safe and took it away without a controlled detonation.

“It had deteriorated some much it was inert,” the spokesperson explained.

The matter was dealt with by 3.30pm.

People who find any suspicious-looking objects along the coastline are urged not to touch them but alert the coastguard immediately by dialling 999.