Warning after live ammunition found in riverbank

Army bomb disposal experts safely detonated a suspected grenade at Lower Castle Park

An urgent warning has been issued to unofficial treasure-seekers, after live ammunition was discovered along a public riverbank.

City wardens in Colchester, Essex, found 20 rounds of the ammunition in Castle Park on Friday.

A further inspection uncovered a suspected hand grenade in the river on Sunday.

Colchester City Council believed that the items “maybe have been unearthed by individuals searching for treasure without permission”.

The council said the discoveries raised “serious safety concerns and highlight the risks associated with unauthorised digging along the riverbanks”.

It added that before it was disturbed, “the deeply buried ammunition did not pose a risk to the public”.

The ammunition was handed over to Essex Police for disposal and army bomb disposal experts were called to deal with the submerged hand grenade.

It was “safely detonated in a controlled environment” at Lower Castle Park, the council said.

A suspected hand grenade was found submerged in the river bed on Sunday

In response to the incident, the council has installed signs along the riverbanks warning against unauthorised digging and disturbance.

It said anyone wishing to use a metal detector or dig on council land needed permission.