Bomb disposal experts were called to Southend Hospital
An Essex hospital was evacuated after a hand grenade was found in the building.
Police officers were called to Southend Hospital at about 3.45pm today.
A member of staff reported seeing the grenade on the first floor of a tower block at the hospital.
An Essex police spokesman said: “Officers evacuated part of the building and Prittlewell Chase was closed. Army bomb disposal experts attended and the item has been taken away for testing.
“Enquiries into how the item came to be in the building are continuing. Cordons that were in place around the building have been lifted and people have returned to the hospital.”
Officers put up a 200 metre exclusion zone in the height of the drama and called firefighters to the scene.
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