Holidaymakers evacuated after 'old hand grenade' found in Isle of Wight resort

An "old hand grenade" was found in the ARM holiday resort near the seaside village of Bembridge. (Picture: Getty Images)

A Royal Navy bomb squad has retrieved an "old hand grenade" that was found in a holiday resort on the Isle of Wight.

Guests were evacuated from their cabins at the Whitecliff Bay resort in Bembridge on Thursday night.

Away Resorts Management, which runs the centre, said the device was discovered earlier that evening.

Local media reported that a guest staying at the park found the device on a beach and carried it back to their caravan, thinking it was a fossil.

ARM Whitecliff Bay resort in Bembridge, where the hand grenade was found. (GoogleMaps)

In an update on Friday morning, ARM said: "The hand grenade has been retrieved by the Royal Navy Bomb Disposal team.

"Thank you for your patience, we are all very grateful.

"If you are staying with us at the moment it is now safe to return to your accommodation."

Earlier, the company had said an "old hand grenade" had been found at Whitecliff Bay but that all customers were safe.

The authorities were alerted to a potential unexploded ordnance at around 11.30pm on Thursday.