Children were found playing with an unexploded grenade they had uncovered in the Highlands.

Rosemarkie beach was closed and a 200ft-wide cordon was set up after the device was discovered on Tuesday.

A family came across the children playing with the live rifle grenade, which is believed to date back to the Second World War.

It was destroyed in a controlled blast by Royal Navy explosives experts on Wednesday afternoon.

A spokesman said: "A family were walking along the beach and they saw the children playing with something that looked suspicious.

"We initially thought it was a mortar but it was quite rusted and we later found that it was a rifle grenade.

"They were high-explosives used quite heavily by the Home Guard during the Second World War."

A spokesman for Inverness Coastguard, which was also involved in the operation, said the area is now safe.

"The area was cordoned off until an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team arrived on scene, where they successfully carried out a controlled explosion," they said.

"The cordon has now been lifted and the area has been made safe.

"We would like to thank the public for their cooperation and would like to remind you that if you see anything suspicious on the coast, please dial 999 and ask for the coastguard."