Dorset: Bomb squad called after WW1 grenade handed to museum

The grenade was handed in to the Admiralty Buildings which houses the D-Day Centre and WW2 Museum

A building was evacuated and roads cordoned off after a World War One grenade was handed in to a museum.

Bomb disposal experts were called just after 12:00 BST after reports a live grenade was given to the D-Day Centre and World War Two Museum in Portland, Dorset.

Sixty people were evacuated from the headquarters of care provider Agincare while others were instructed to leave the area by police.

Roads were reopened four hours later.

An Ministry of Defence spokesperson said the Grenade Hand HE No 5 was "safely removed" by a team from Portsmouth.

A spokesman for the D-Day Centre said a member of the public brought in the grenade "as a donation".

"We sometimes receive donations of medals, uniforms and alike but do always advise people to report any potentially hazardous items to the police rather than bring them into us, even if they believe the item to be safe," he said.

Cruise ship

Staff were evacuated from the Agincare company, which is in the same building as the D-Day Centre and WW2 Museum.

Julie Sedgwick told friends and family on Facebook she had just been swimming at the nearby Osprey Leisure Centre when she was stopped by police.

"Never a dull moment ...politely instructed to leave the area which I was going to do anyway," she said.

"Three coach loads of tourists from the cruise ship in port just stuck outside until the bomb disposal unit arrives."

The Mein Schiff 3 cruise ship, operated by Tui Cruises, is currently docked in the harbour, according to Portland Port's website.

Tui Cruises said: "Guests and crew who were already on land were transferred back on board via another route."

The ship was due to depart at 19:00 as planned, it said.