Army issues statement after bomb squad called to grenade in Hereford

THE BOMB squad was called to Hereford police station this morning after a hand grenade was handed in.

Police closed Bath Street just after 10.40am, with officers diverting traffic away from the police station down side streets.

Bath Street in Hereford was cordoned off. Picture: Michael Eden

Pedestrians were also kept away from the police station, with a cordon and police scene guard in place as officers waited for an ordnance disposal team to deal with the suspected unexploded grenade.

Police said the item was believed to be a Second World War-era Mills hand grenade.

READ MORE: Live updates: bomb squad called to Hereford police station

Mills grenades first went into production in 1915, with more than 75 million made, and were heavily used in the First and Second World Wars.

They feature a percussion cap and a time-delay fuse.

The cordon was in place for more than an hour. Picture: Michael Eden

Bath Street was closed to traffic for more than an hour while army bomb disposal experts dealt with the grenade, while the Bath Street car park adjoining the station was also cordoned off.

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The closure saw heavy traffic building across Hereford, with lengthy tailbacks in Commercial Road, Kyrle Street, Gaol Street, and Newmarket Street.

Traffic in Kyrle Street, Hereford. Picture: Michael Eden

The bomb squad were seen leaving the police station just after 12pm carrying a black case.

An army spokesperson said: “We can confirm that the army’s explosive ordnance disposal team was called out by Herefordshire Police to Hereford police station this morning (February 14). Upon inspection the hand grenade was found to be inert and was safely removed from the site.

“We always advise the public that if they inadvertently come across what they believe to be live ordnance, they should contact their local police force as a matter of urgency.”