The National Trust car park at Middle Beach in Studland has been cordoned off by Purbeck Police until an explosive ordnance can be made safe.
The World War One hand grenade was found in the afternoon on Friday 31st December 2021 and the police alerted.
The hand grenade in Middle Beach car park
Middle Beach car park closed
The police closed off the car park not wishing to start the year off with an unintentional big bang and called in the army’s explosive ordnance disposal team.
The New Year’s Eve find is believed to be a Mills hand grenade that was developed around 1915 and widely used in World War One by the British Army.
There was a very low tide at Middle Beach on New Year’s Eve
World War One hand grenade
Purbeck Police reported:
“Middle Beach car park will be closed overnight and into tomorrow morning due to the ordnance found. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal team has confirmed this to be a WW1 hand grenade.”
The public are being asked to avoid the area until the unexploded device has been dealt with.
