Several highly explosive grenades were destroyed by the military yesterday (March 29) after dog walkers discovered them in woodland.

The large explosion was caught on camera as a bomb disposal unit destroyed the weapons in a field off Woodside, North Weald, at about 7pm.

The loud bang of the demolition was heard for miles around, and a hole measuring about 8ft by 4ft was left in the ground.

William Aldis, 36, of Woodside, filmed the detonation which was carried out in his field on the edge of Thornwood Common.

He said: “I was standing 150 yards away and it was really loud, a big bang.

“I would have been worried for someone else if I was not there.

“If they were in the hands of somebody unpleasant, they would have made a right mess of a large building.”

Epping Forest Guardian:

The hole left by the powerful explosion (Photo by William Aldis​/ Treetop Tours)

Lisa Croft, 45, of High Ongar, discovered the potentially deadly weapons as she walked her dog with her husband Vincent in woodland close to Epping Road and Coopersale Common.

“We were walking the dog and the dog ran off to do her exploring so we followed,” she said.

“We looked and we could see this box sitting by a tree and we looked at what was inside.

“It was really rusty, but there were what looked like mortars inside and they weren’t rusty.

“We phoned the police and they were brilliant, they arrived in minutes and then we went on our way.”

“We have walked there a million times and never seen anything, it was only because of the dog going there,” she added.

“We probably saved some damage!”

An Essex Police spokeswoman said: “Police were called at around 5pm on Tuesday, March 29 following reports that possible unexploded grenades had been found in a wooded area near Rye Hill Road in Epping.

“The military’s explosive ordnance disposal unit attended and removed the items for disposal.”