A METAL detectorist discovered a First World War grenade in a river in Blandford - three months after making a similar discovery which brought the town to a standstill.

Police and an army bomb squad were alerted to the River Stour in Blandford on Sunday after the 'well-preserved' wartime Mills bomb grenade was found.

Keen metal detectorist Grant Osborne, aged 37, of Blandford, found the explosive object in the river within half an hour of arriving with friend Stephen Hill, aged 27, from Dorchester - a fellow member of the Dorset Magnet Fishing Community.

On November 3 last year, the two metal detectorists, along with friend William Wigley from Weymouth, fished out a 'suspected explosive device', which led to police closing parts of Blandford town centre.

Mr Osborne said: "We arrived at the river around noon and within half an hour I found the Mills grenade.

"Our group has found a few pieces lately, but this is by far the most interesting piece I've personally discovered.

"From previous experience, we took a picture with it and put it in a bucket of cold water - then contacted the police."

He added: "It's always scary when you find something like this, and it's incredible how well preserved this device was."

A spokeswoman from Dorset Police said: "We received a report at 1pm on Sunday, January 30 that a suspected grenade had been found in a river in the area of West Street in Blandford.

"Officers attended and cordon was put in place for the safety of members of the public.

"Explosive Ordnance Disposal experts attended and carried out a controlled detonation.

"Officers left the scene shortly after 4.30pm."