A man carried a live Second World War bomb through the streets of Potters Bar before attempting to hand it in at a closed police station.

Bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion on the device after it was dug up by the metal detecting enthusiast yesterday afternoon.

The man found the 1kg German incendiary device in woodland at the Royal Veterinary College grounds in Brookmans Park.

He carried the live bomb to the now-closed Potters Bar police station but dialled 999 after finding the front desk was shut.

The bombs, which did not explode but sent out a jet of flame to start fires when detonated, were commonly dropped by German planes on bombing raids over Britain during The Blitz.

Hertfordshire Constabulary sent two units to the scene at 7pm last night and a cordon was set up in The Causeway around the device.

Officers contacted the Ministry of Defence but explosives experts were unable to come out to deal with the bomb until this morning (Monday), leaving police to guard the cordon overnight.

Experts from the Army's Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team X-rayed the bomb this morning and discovered that, despite being dropped more than 60 years ago, it was still live.

The device was taken to a secure area in Parkfield where a controlled explosion was carried out.

A Hertfordshire Constabulary spokesman said: “We would always recommend that members of the public exercise extreme caution if they find unexploded ordinance or any suspicious devices.

“Do not touch or attempt to move the device. Keep a safe distance from it and call police immediately.”

Did you discover the explosive device or know the man who did? Contact reporter Chris Hewett on 07824 530 136.