An explosion heard in Wanstead this afternoon was a controlled detonation of a grenade dating to before the Second World War, police have said.

The lound bang was heard around Wanstead and Snaresbrook at around 12.30pm.

Cllr Ian Bond was at indoors at home in Dangan Road when he was startled by the noise.

He said: “It was clearly an explosion in the general area but you couldn’t tell where it was.”

A Redbridge Police spokesman said the sound came from a “controlled explosion” at Hollow Ponds, in Whipps Cross Road, Leytonstone.

Officers cordoned off the area after being called by a member of the public who discovered the grenade.

Forest rangers cleared people out of the area before destroying the weapon and Whipps Cross Road was closed in both directions.

Hollow Ponds and the road have now reopened.