A woman took a hand grenade into Gravesham council’s Civic Centre yesterday afternoon, leading to the building being evacuated and the cancellation of a performance in the Studio theatre.

It's emerged the discovery was made as the woman was clearing her late father’s house in Istead Rise.

It is understood she then drove it to Gravesend and handed it in to the police office inside the reception area of the Civic Centre.

The police were alerted immediately and the area sealed off and members of the public were turned away. Later, on police advice, remaining staff were told to leave the building which was secured.

An Explosive Ordnance Disposal team later removed the 1971 grenade.

Last night’s scheduled performance of Austen’s Women in The Woodville’s Studio theatre was cancelled as a precaution and a public meeting of the Overview Scrutiny committee was postponed.

A council spokesman said: "Everything was done to ensure there was no risk to the public and to staff.

"Advice to anyone finding suspect devices is that they should inform the police immediately and not attempt to touch or move it.

"This woman's actions were misguided if well intentioned but it is foolhardy to move such devices and potentially very dangerous."

A police spokesman said yesterday: "At 3.04pm a suspected unexploded hand grenade was handed in to the Police Contact Point in the Gravesend Civic Centre.

"Officers from Kent Police are at the scene and, to ensure public safety, the building has been evacuated as a precaution.

"An EOD team from the Ministry of Defence has been called."

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal team attended and safely removed the device.

There were no suspicious circumstances, so no arrests were made.