A BOMB disposal unit was called to a railway tunnel after workmen found a live hand grenade.

The grenade, an old US army issue from the Second World War, was found by track maintenance staff in the Box Tunnel, near Chippenham.

British Transport police were called and the grenade was taken away.

Trains due to travel through the tunnel were delayed and diverted away. Trains travelling through Chippenham, Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads were also affected.

Tunnels in the area were used to store ammunition in the war and the grenade could have been left after they were cleared.

In July, bomb squad experts carried out a series of controlled explosions in Bythesea Road in Trowbridge after a pile of up to 100 live grenades was found by workmen at the old TA site.

Part of the town centre was sealed off and the explosions were carried out in stages because of the noise they created.