Bomb team explode grenade in park
THE bomb squad destroyed a suspected grenade found in a canal in a Stockport village.
The dramatic scenes unfolded in Marple on Sunday as many visitors and residents were enjoying the spring sunshine.
It is understood a magnet fisherman pulled what appeared to be a historic grenade out of the canal near St Martin’s Road at around 10.30am.
He placed it near a bridge and called police who closed surrounding roads and called in the Army’s bomb disposal team.
Fortunately, it was not necessary to evacuate any surrounding homes.
But the bomb squad carried out a controlled explosion to destroy the device.
“Bomb disposal pulled up outside our house at about 2.40pm along with seven or eight police cars and vans,” an eyewitness said. “People started gathering near the stone walls and were told to move back - it was quite exciting, not a lot happens in Marple!
“They drove onto the green and then two Army personnel went into the middle of the green with sandbags and a box. “
“The Army personnel were digging for a while then they came back towards our house with a little black box.
“This was placed on top of what looked like an extension lead attached to the bomb disposal van and then they pressed the button and it exploded.”
Greater Manchester
Police said in a statement earlier: “Police were called at around 11.30am on Sunday 25 April 2021 to a report of a suspected historic hand grenade being found in the canal off St Martin’s
Road, Marple, Stockport.
“Bomb Disposal officers are due to make an assessment of the device.
“Road closures are in place in the area.
“No homes have been evacuated.”