Grenade blown up in cricket ground

It meant the team had to move the boundary by five metres so the hole, which has been partially filled in with top soil, did not interfere with the game against Chertsey Cricket Club.

Brett Archer, 33, who is captain of the team, said: "I suppose it was quite funny really, because although the hole is filled in it is a bit of an eyesore, and it was a bit harder to play a match on Saturday.

"Luckily it wasn't near the cricket square, but we had to shorten the boundaries so the crater was just outside. I was afraid some of the smaller players might fall inside."

The high explosive fragmentation grenade was found by a Shepperton resident while they were digging in their garden on Friday, and taken to Staines police station, in Kingston Road, at 12.36pm on the same day.

Officers from the station evacuated the front counter and a number of rooms on the first floor for precautionary measures, and carried out an X-ray which showed the grenade was still live.

An army bomb disposal unit was called, and took the grenade to the sports ground as they needed a large open space to safely carry out the explosion.

Brett said: "I suppose it had to be done and I suppose they chose our ground because it was a large open space, but it was a bit annoying because they left a large hole in our grounds. I was quite shocked when I heard that it happened."

The grenade was exploded at 2.47pm while Worple Road was closed.

The groundsmen of the club filled in the hole shortly afterwards with about £30 of topsoil, but Brett said it is going to take a while for the grass to re-grow.

Brett also said that the police offered to pay for any costs involved.

Are you the person who found the grenade in your garden? If so, it would be great to hear from you.

Please call 01932 561111.