The drama unfolded at 6-30 p.m. on Tuesday when the grenade, covered in rust, was found encased in concrete on land off Thompson Street.

The grenade was later identified by bomb disposal experts as a replica.

Sgt Phil Carter said: "The man was walking down the street when the dog found a large lump of concrete with a piece of metal sticking out of it.
He threw the concrete on the floor and discovered the hand grenade."

The man, in his mid-40s, alerted PC Mark Jenkinson, who was on patrol in the area. Police put up a 200m cordon to make the grassy area safe. Bomb disposal experts from the Army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit in Chester attended at 9-30 p.m. They found the grenade to be a replica and the cordon was removed shortly after 10 p.m.

The grenade was found near the River Calder and Mini Sport, away from residential properties, so there was no need for residents to be evacuated.

Sgt Carter said: "It was first thought the grenade was possibly of Second World War age. Correct police policies and procedures in relation to suspicious packages were followed."

In June last year two 11-year-old girls found part of a Second World War anti-aircraft artillery shell on the disused railway line close to Padiham Green.