HOMES were evacuated after a grenade was dug up in the garden of a house in Old Hall.

Police were called to Livingstone Close shortly after 2.30pm on Monday, May 13, with an unexploded grenade having been dug up by a homeowner who was carrying out work on their property.

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

A cordon was put in place preventing access to the surrounding area, with a number of houses having been evacuated.

Bomb disposal squads were called to the scene, although the Chester-based team were delayed by traffic due to the Chester Road swing bridge being jammed open at rush hour.

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

The bomb squad then arrived on scene shortly before 5.15pm.

Crews then left the scene at around 5.30pm, before taking the grenade to a building site on Burtonwood Road - where a controlled explosion was then carried out.

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It is believed that a total of six houses were evacuated, with 20 residents being affected.

They were taken to temporary shelter at nearby Westbrook Old Hall Primary School, although the cordon was lifted the same evening.

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

The housing estate where Livingstone Close is sited was previously part of the RAF Burtonwood airbase, which was a key location for the transportation of munitions during the Second World War.

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And police have now confirmed that they believe the explosive dates back to wartime.

Warrington Guardian: