GRENADE 'props' taken to a Dad's Army show by one of the actors caused a full-scale bomb alert when it was realised they were the real thing from World War 1.

Amateur actor Keith Poultney nearly brought the house down when he decided two rusting grenades in his mother in law's garage would give his play an authentic touch.

Financial adviser Keith, 56, from Magor, picked up the grenades while attending a family wedding in Droitwitch, Worcestershire.

He said: "My mother-in-law had been given them by her father years ago and they were gathering dust and some rust. They seemed ideal as props.

"I thought the grenades would bring a really authentic touch to our Dad's Army show which was being staged by Magor Players."

Father-of-one Keith was taking a lead role of Corporal Jones in the revue. He said: "They were mounted on metal frames. To use them in the show I had to knock them off the metal backing which I did when we got home to Magor.

"To my astonishment the lead plugs were still there in the base and the pins were also in the bottom of both. For all intents and purposes they looked the real thing – and live! The maker's mark could still clearly be seen. The date 1918 was on the two of them making them over 90 years old."

In true Corporal Jones fashion Keith didn't panic but remained cool. He conducted a quick search on the internet for more details about the grenades. Keith then put a call in to the local police.

"They advised us to take the grenades outside some distance from the house carefully and straightaway. We put them in the middle of a field and waited for the Bomb Squad."

The grenades were made safe with a controlled explosion and found not to be live.

Keith said: "We were told we'd done the right thing. The grenades looked pretty intact afterwards but sadly I wasn't allowed to keep them for security reasons and also as they are Crown Property.

"We didn't have the props for our show. Still, it could have been worse, they may have been live and that really would have brought the house down."

The Magor Players' revue was staged last week at the Church Hall, Magor.