A carpenter didn’t know what to make of an apparent German First World War grenade he found on the pavement in St Paul’s Road on the way to work.

Jonathan Ahearne, 38, was heading to Highbury and Islington station last week when he saw what he thought was an explosive on the floor.

He said: “Stupidly I picked it up and walked into the shop with it. I went and tucked it under the kerb and called police.”

Police arrived in minutes and closed off the section of the pavement while they removed the object, which was later deemed not dangerous.