POLICE were called when a quick-thinking member of Herefordshire Council’s street cleansing team found what he thought was a hand grenade in a litter bin.
Paul Parsons, who works for the council’s contracting partners Amey, noticed the suspicious device in the bin on a lay-by near to the Tram Inn on the A465.
He immediately called his Street Scene supervisor Tom Hill.
Police were called and within 15 minutes the road was closed to all traffic until the device, which turned out to be a spent flashbag, was removed.
“A flashbag is a flare which flashes when thrown and Paul must be commended for being alert to the possible danger, even though this time it turned out to be a spent one,” said Mr Hill.
Police are now investigating the origins of the flashbag.
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