A First World War German hand grenade was discovered at a town's museum, prompting the evacuation of the town hall.

Dr Lorna Richardson, curator of Bungay Museum and a town councillor, was sorting through a number of items in the museum's collection on Tuesday morning, June 29, when she discovered the grenade, believed to date back to 1916.

Eastern Daily Press: A German hand grenade was discovered at Bungay Museum on June 29.A German hand grenade was discovered at Bungay Museum on June 29. (Image: Bungay Museum)

The museum, which is set to reopen on weekends from July 10, is housed at Bungay Town Hall, which is also used by the town council and as a temporary Post Office.

A spokesperson for Bungay Town Council confirmed police were called and had taken the decision to evacuate and secure the building while the grenade was assessed.

Two army personnel inspected the hand grenade, and its provenance was confirmed as "a German 1916 egg shaped hand grenade", which was taken away for analysis.

Eastern Daily Press: The hand grenade discovered in the Museum at Bungay Town Hall.The hand grenade discovered in the Museum at Bungay Town Hall. (Image: Bungay Town Council)

The temporary Post Office had to be closed, but customers' mail that had been deposited earlier in the day was "collected as normal."

On Tuesday afternoon, a Suffolk Police spokesman said: "Police were called at 11:30am to reports that a suspected historic hand grenade had been found on the premises at Bungay Museum, Broad Street.

"The building was evacuated to ensure the public safety, pending an examination of the item by Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal officers.

"It has been established it is a replica so all stood down."