Hand grenade sparks alert

An unexploded hand grenade was blown up by army experts during a bomb scare after it was found in a Kidderminster garden.

Police sealed off surrounding roads after the wartime device was discovered at the bottom of a garden in Godson Crescent at 6.45pm yesterday.

Bomb disposal experts were called to examine the grenade, which was taken to a field at Baxter College, in Habberley Road, where it was detonated.

Residents were told to stay indoors and away from doors and windows as a precaution while the controlled explosion was carried out.

A "loud bang" was heard by people living nearby streets including St John's Avenue and Beaufort Avenue.

Resident Emma Flanagan, aged 28, who works at the Ramada Hotel in Habberley Road, said: "I got home from work last night and my husband Simon, told me there had been a massive explosion. It had rattled all the doors and windows in the house."

"All the neighbours were standing out in the street trying find out what was going on. Friends who live in St John's Avenue also heard the explosion and said they had seen the bomb disposal unit go past. You wouldn't think a small hand grenade could cause such a loud noise," added Mrs Flanagan, of Beaufort Avenue.

Police spokeswoman Julia Jones said: "The item is believed to be a number of years old and bomb disposal experts were contacted and attended the scene.

"People living in nearby houses were spoken to and advised to remain inside and away from doors and windows as a precaution until the matter had been dealt with. A cordon was set up around the immediate area.

"Bomb disposal experts removed the device and took it to the field at Baxter College where it was detonated at about 9.30pm and the scene was declared safe."