When a Southampton man spotted something unusual in his garden while his two-year-old daughter looked on he suddenly realised the extreme danger he and his family were in.

Thanks to his hobby, James Bradley realised the piece of metal he had uncovered was a Second World War hand grenade and quickly took steps to keep his family safe.

The 35-year-old collects Second World War weapons and memorabilia and knew the Mills hand grenade was still live.

Southern Gas Networks engineer James shouted for his wife Kelly and two daughters Scarlett, two, and Elisha, 12, to get inside while they phoned the police.

A bomb disposal unit was called to collect the grenade, while neighbours near his home, in Bath Road, Bitterne, were told to stay indoors.

The disposal unit then took the grenade and carried out a controlled explosion in Portsmouth.

James said: “I was just about to throw what appeared to be this strange piece of metal down the other end of my garden when I started to think ‘hold on this is something else’.

“Had I have thrown it I think my daughter and I would have been killed or seriously injured – the pin was still in it. If I hadn’t some knowledge of weapons, I’m sure I would not be here today.”