Grenade event in United Kingdom on Sun 5th November 2023

Army called as hand grenades found in Merseyside canal

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment were called to the scene this afternoon

Police were called to a Merseyside canal today after two hand grenades were found in the water.

Officers were seen on Bridge Road in Litherland this afternoon, with a cordon across the end of the street blocking a section of the Leeds and Liverpool canal. The force arrived at the scene at 2.40pm after a call from a group of magnet fishers who discovered two unexploded grenades, dating back to World Wars One and Two.

When the ECHO visited the road people were crowded around the small cordon. The police confirmed that the armed forces' Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment were at the scene.

The North West Magnet Fishers meet weekly to throw strong magnets into a body of water in the hopes of retrieving lost, metal treasures. The group said they found the grenades earlier this afternoon.

Neil Barratt, a member of the group told the ECHO: "We came at 8.30am, and we found the grenades in the early afternoon. We found a Mills 36 grenade from WW2 and it looked viable, soon afterward I found the Mills Five grenade which is from WW1.

"We could not see clearly inside them so we thought we should get them checked out. There have been thousands found and I have never heard of one exploding, it is the second one I've found."

The cordon has now been removed and police have said the grenades were safe with no charge in them. Neil believes that grenades were from a demolished munitions factory and were thrown into the river by workers during the war.

Another member of the group, David Crank, 56, said: "I was just throwing my magnet in and the next moment I pulled out a WW2 grenade. I knew what it was by the shape and feel of it.

"I was excited because it was my first one, I have seen other people on YouTube find them, but I had a feeling I would not be able to keep it."

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "We can confirm officers were in attendance in Litherland following the discovery of two suspected hand grenades today, Sunday November 5.

"At around 2.40pm, a report was received that the two devices were discovered in a canal by Bridge Road. Officers were at the scene and a cordon was in place.

"EOD attended and confirmed the grenades were safe with no charge in them. The cordon has now been removed and we thank members of the public for their patience while the incident was dealt with."