ARMY bomb disposal experts were called to the Craven Museum when a World War One grenade was found as part of a treasure trove of curiosities.

Amazed curator Siobhan Kirrane couldn't believe her eyes when she opened a draw in a long-forgotten cabinet to find an array of dazzling finds, including the war relic and an Egyptian mummy's hand!

Other carefully-labelled historical gems included "velvet from the stool upon which knelt King Charles I when he was beheaded" and a small wooden ball "made out of Lord Nelson's ship Victory".

Siobhan stumbled upon the antiquities by accident while carrying out inventory work for her computer database.

Siobhan said: "After pulling open drawer upon drawer of birds' eggs, I was very surprised to find myself staring at two French egg bombs and a 1918 grenade.

"I called the police and the army bomb disposal people who came last Sunday and were satisfied that the weapons were safe. I was initially more shocked to see the mummy hand."

The cabinet came to Craven Museum in 1969, from the executors of Richard Tottie of Coniston Hall.

Siobhan added: "This is a wonderful example of a gentleman scholar's collection, put together from around 1840 to 1940."

Material from the cabinet will be on display for public viewing at the museum from tomorrow (Saturday) until Wednesday, September 2.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.