AN OLD hand grenade sparked safety fears after it was uncovered yesterday.

Police closed Aviation Way near to Southend Airport for just under an hour following the discovery near to a construction site at 11.30am.

Bomb disposal experts were called to the scene and were on site until 12.20 when it was determined that the device posed no risk.

Police spokeswoman, Donna Veasey, said: “The grenade was later found to have no detonator so it was thought to have been used for training purposes.

“It would never have been live.”