When staff at Wakehurst Place dredged a pond to encourage more wildlife to the site, they only expected to find leaves and silt.

But instead they discovered wartime relics dropped by soldiers based at the site ahead of the D-Day landings.

The historic finds at the gardens in Ardingly, near Haywards Heath, were discovered when work was carried out on the pond.

They are believed to have been thrown or dropped into the water by British and Canadian soldiers stationed at the 16th Century mansion during the Second World War.

Items included tools, cups, a bullet and vehicle battery.