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A bomb disposal squad that carried out the controlled explosion of a World War Two hand grenade found on the banks of the Thames “woke up half of Greenwich”.

Scotland Yard ordnance experts detonated the 70-year old device at 9.30pm last night with the blast heard up to three miles away.

The grenade was discovered by artist Nicola White on the foreshore at Enderby Wharf at around 8pm.

Ms White, who runs the Tide Line Art website, had spent the evening mudlarking – an age-old practice of collecting items washed up on the shore – before stumbling upon the potentially deadly device.

Describing the drama on Facebook, she said: “For all those of you in Greenwich who heard a very loud bang at about 9.30pm, it was the police bomb disposal unit detonating a grenade I stumbled across earlier this evening.

“As it happens, I was having quite a military mudlarking finds themed afternoon, having already found a couple of military buttons, and part of a cap badge, some bullets, and the there it was, something that looked suspiciously like a hand grenade.”

"I was very impressed with the police and the bomb disposal team, who got there in an instant. Very professional," she added.

The drama was all said to be over within 90 minutes.

According to reports on Twitter the explosion was heard in Hither Green, around three miles away, jolting sleepers from their beds.

One resident tweeted said: “Big explosion! LOL woke most of #Greenwich up!”

Another said: “Huge boom in Greenwich - brought entire neighbourhood out onto the street. Controlled explosion of WW2 bomb apparently. Phew!”

Naomi Elliot tweeted: “Well that certainly woke us up.”

The Met confirmed it was called at 8pm to reports of a hand grenade found and the explosion was carried out at 9.33pm. There was no risk to the public.