Bomb scare sparks mass evacuation
More than 100 people were evacuated from their homes after suspected wartime bombs were found in a West Midland garden.
More than 100 people were evacuated from their homes after suspected wartime bombs were found in a West Midland garden.
Suspicious containers were discovered shortly after 3.30pm yesterday in the garden of a home in James Road, Great Barr.
A total of 70 homes were evacuated with residents from James Road, Hamstead Road and Holland Road sent to the Tanhouse Community Centre while bomb disposal experts were called.
The containers later turned out to be oxygen cylinders. The three cylinders were covered in camouflage paint, with German writing on the side.
James Road and nearby Woodfort Road were cordoned off by police for two hours from 4.30pm as was Holland Road, at the corner of Hamstead Road. There was no-one at the home where the metal shells were discovered yesterday, but neighbours said they believed the owners had been working on the garden.
Asda worker Emma Johnson, who lives close to the house, said she, her partner and sons aged four and nine, were among those evacuated.
She said: "We wondered what on earth had happened. There were police swarming everywhere. I thought there had been an accident or someone had been killed.
"Then we were told we would have to leave the house.
"Then we heard they had found grenades. It was quite scary really especially as we have small children. Someone new has moved in over there.
"I know they have been doing some work on the garden, so we are assuming that is how they were discovered."
Ken Ford had been to visit his mother-in-law in Hamstead Road when he saw the evacuation operation. He said: "They weren't taking any chances. There were more than five ambulances, a special incident unit, fire engine and lots of police cars.
"More than 100 people were sent over to the community centre while they investigated. Everyone was told there had been a suspect device found in a back garden."
Brenda Etheridge, aged 77, a retired Littlewoods worker said the drama took her back to wartime. She said: "It was a bit of a shock when we were told we were being evacuated, although I can remember dodging the bombs round these parts during the Second World War, when I lived on Ray Hall Lane."
West Midlands Police spokeswoman Zoe Lee said: "Police called at approximately 3.38 pm yesterday to reports of two to three World War I or World War II shells in a garden at an address on James road.
"The Explosive Ordnance Disposal team attended the scene, x-rayed the shells and confirmed they were two post World War Two respirators and declared the entire area safe.
"All roads reopened and residents were allowed to return home at 6.30pm."
