For staff at Castlemaine’s Salvation Army thrift store in Barker Street, it started out as just another day yesterday as they spent the morning sorting through clothing and goods donated through bins in the town.

Volunteer Ray Siemering was working his way through shoes when he noticed something a little out of the ordinary - a hand grenade pushed down inside a man’s boot.

‘‘I noticed that the lever was down so it hadn’t been discharged… but I didn’t know if it was alive or dead,’’ he said.

After informing his supervisor Lyn Pittard, the pair contacted Castlemaine Police.

Lyn said Ray was very calm.

‘‘He just sort of casually said, `I’ve got a hand grenade and it’s still got the pin in it’,’’ she said.

Ray said being part of the Army during World War II meant he knew what he was dealing with.

‘‘I recognised what it was straight away because of (my time in the army), but I haven’t had anything to do with them for over 60 years,’’ he said.

Castlemaine Police Sergeant Mick Peckham said after responding to the call just after 9.15 am, police found what appeared to be ‘‘a genuine grenade with the pin intact.’’

Police then contacted the Army, and a specialist bomb disposal crew were called in from Melbourne to collect the unexploded ordnance.

It was later discovered to be a 36M British Grenade, also known as a Mills bomb.

An army bomb specialist said the discovery was an example of good community thinking.

‘‘How good it was that it was reported to the police and that we were called out.

‘‘We’d prefer to come out as there is no such thing as a false alarm in this type of situation,’’ he said.

Sgt Peckham said the discovery provided a timely warning for the community.

‘‘It certainly is timely in relation to ANZAC Day, and just so people know that if you come across artifacts from the war, if you’re not sure what it is, treat it as dangerous and contact the police,’’ he said.

For staff, who kept the store open throughout the event, it was an unusual morning.

‘‘This would probably be the most exciting thing we’ve found.

‘‘We’ve found gun powder, bullets, samurai swords and bayonets before, but this has caused the most stir,’’ Lyn said.