A World War Two hand grenade discovered near a Skipton housing estate could have exploded at any time.

A youth discovered the grenade last Thursday in the field at the back of Skipton's North Parade.

He carried it to the home of a nearby resident who recognised it as a bomb.

He put it in an empty rabbit hutch before phoning the police.

The resident, who did not wish to be named, told the Herald: "He (the youth) was carrying it in his hand. I took it off him and knew what it was straight away."

He added that the youth came across the grenade while he was moving branches.

Thirty homes had to be evacuated while the grenade was detonated through a controlled explosion.

A spokesman from the bomb disposal unit said the live device was in poor condition and it was highly likely it could have exploded at any time.

And he added that it could have gone off whilst being carried by those who found it.

The bomb disposal team decided to dispose of the rusty grenade at the scene rather than try and transport it away.

After being alerted to the incident, Skipton police arrived on the scene at 12.15pm and closed the road from the junction with Rombalds Drive to Cawder Green roundabout, quickly evacuating residents from 30 houses away from the danger area.

The fire brigade and paramedics were called and were all on standby as a safety measure.

The bomb disposal unit arrived from Catterick at about 2.30pm and confirmed that the device, which would have been used by the British military until the early 1960s, was live.

Three officers carried the grenade out into the back field where it was put into a small hole.

The device was detonated at 3.05pm.

Concerned residents who had been forced out of their homes to Greatwood Community School and the community centre watched from a safe distance until they were allowed to return to their houses.

A spokesman from Catterick said: "Normally if anyone finds a grenade they should leave it where it is and phone the police."

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