Second World War grenades found in wood were 'petrol bombs' used to target tanks

SECOND World War devices that had to be detonated by a bomb disposal crew at South Cave have been confirmed as special incendiary grenades.

The weapons were used by the Home Guard against tanks during the conflict.

They are glass bottles with a screw-top filled with benzene and phosphorous, which self-ignites.

The discovery was made by a dog walker with a metal detector who unearthed the stash of 36 grenades.

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The man, who has not been identified, made the discovery on Friday night at a popular beauty spot in South Cave.

An Army bomb disposal unit was dispatched to safely detonate the devices on Saturday morning.

The grenades were discovered in the woods at Little Wold Plantation on the outskirts of the town.

Sergeant Phil Young, who attended the scene, said: "A guy from Explosive Ordnance Disposal said these devices are like commercially produced petrol bombs.

"The bottles have a screw-top and the phosphorous ensures they are self-igniting.

"They were thrown in the paths of tanks, which helped distract the drivers.

"The bottles are not explosive and there was no danger to the public.

"The only slight risk would be if someone dropped one and it ignited the petrol.

"The team thoroughly searched the area and found no other devices. The dog walker initially found just one and then a whole crate of them.

"It was common practice to dispose of the grenades by burying them deep underground."

The grenades were detonated at about 10am on Saturday after the area had been sealed off.

Local Second World War researcher Andy Gwynne believes the grenades might have belonged to one of the region's Auxiliary Units.

A member of the Coleshill Auxiliary Research Team, Mr Gwynne said: "This plantation is where there was an operational base for the Auxiliary Unit.

"It is more than likely these grenades were linked to this base.

"There were three bases in the area at South Cave, North Cave and Brough.

"A lot of these bases had ammunition stores filled with explosives, grenades and other weapons."