A First World War-era hand grenade was destroyed by police after it was discovered in a shipment of potatoes.

The explosive, thought to be of German origin, was found at a food-processing plant in the city of Tseung Kwan O, in Hong Kong, on Saturday.

Police said bomb disposal experts detonated the 2.2lb device at the Tseung Kwan O industrial estate after it was unearthed in the shipment from France.

Officers are reported to have closed a nearby street, moved cars and piled sandbags around the grenade before detonating it.

Police said there were no injuries and no indication of criminal activity.

Hong Kong police destroy WWI-era grenade found in shipment of potatoes Show all 4 1 /4 Hong Kong police destroy WWI-era grenade found in shipment of potatoes Hong Kong police destroy WWI-era grenade found in shipment of potatoes Hong Kong police destroyed a World War I-era hand grenade at an industrial estate in Tseung Kwan after it was found at a food-processing plant in a shipment of potatoes from France. Hong Kong Police Force Hong Kong police destroy WWI-era grenade found in shipment of potatoes Hong Kong police destroyed a World War I-era hand grenade at an industrial estate in Tseung Kwan after it was found at a food-processing plant in a shipment of potatoes from France. Hong Kong Police Force Hong Kong police destroy WWI-era grenade found in shipment of potatoes Hong Kong police destroyed a World War I-era hand grenade at an industrial estate in Tseung Kwan after it was found at a food-processing plant in a shipment of potatoes from France. Hong Kong Police Force Hong Kong police destroy WWI-era grenade found in shipment of potatoes Hong Kong police destroyed a World War I-era hand grenade at an industrial estate in Tseung Kwan after it was found at a food-processing plant in a shipment of potatoes from France. Hong Kong Police Force

The discovery comes after a man in the Netherlands was treated in hospital last month after he spent two and a half hours lying on top of a bomb.

He reportedly found the unexploded device while walking his dog and covered it with his body when he heard it "hissing".