Unlucky Michael Kitchen could be forgiven if he gave up gardening - he keeps digging up unexploded grenades!

The 58-year-old was putting compost on the flowerbeds at his Portlight Close home in Mistley, when his spade hit something metal.

Mr Kitchen investigated further and pulled out a German hand grenade during his Bank Holiday gardening on Friday.

Luckily, he knew just what to do. Mr Kitchen has dug up grenades before, including an occasion some years ago when he unearthed five German rifle grenades all in the same day.

He said: "I know the drill so I rang Mistley police. They have to ring the bomb squad - I tried to call them last time this happened but they are not in the phonebook.

"The police came and took it away. It was blown up at Wrabness beach."

Mr Kitchen, meanwhile, will continue with his gardening. And he is mystified as to why he keeps unearthing the grenades when no-one else in his road seems to experience the same problem.

He said: "I don't know why I keep finding them - I must dig more deeply than the rest!"

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