Homes in a New Malden street were evacuated this morning after a hand grenade was discovered during a police raid.

Police executed a search warrant on the home in Burlington Road at 11.13am today and discovered the hand grenade, which specialist officers later found to be deactivated.

Officers closed Burlington Road and set up cordons as a precaution.

A 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and grievous bodily harm.

A police spokeswoman said: "A device, suspected to be a hand grenade, was found at the premises.

"Local residents were evacuated as a precaution. Road closures and cordons were also put in place.

"Specialist officers attended and on examination the device was found to have been deactivated." 

Kingston police apologised to anybody affected by the road closures.

The man is being questioned at a west London police station.