Grenade find sparks alert near Whitchurch

A controlled explosion had to be carried out on a hand grenade found in a garden in north Shropshire.

A man called police at about noon yesterday after finding the grenade in his garden in Higher Heath, near Whitchurch.

Maria Wilkinson, West Mercia Police spokeswoman, said officers attended and contacted bomb specialists from the Army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal regiment.

The Army's team carried out a controlled explosion at about 4.45pm in a nearby field, meaning no properties had to be evacuated.

Mrs Wilkinson said: "We took a call at 12.20pm from an address in Higher Heath reporting that a man digging in his garden found what he thought was a hand grenade which appeared to be a number of years old.

"Police attended and as a precaution contacted the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team. The item is believed to have been there for some considerable time."

Mark Hatton, force duty inspector for West Mercia Police, added: "It was quite straight forward.

"The grenade appears to have been taken to a field near the property where a controlled explosion took place."