Police evacuated and cordoned off a street in Stourbridge on Wednesday afternoon after receiving reports of a grenade discovered in a shed. The alert, raised at around 12pm on October 14, prompted a significant emergency response in the Wordsley area of the town.
Residents living on Rectory Street were instructed to clear the area while specialist bomb disposal teams were called in to assess the device. The road was sealed off as a precaution while officers worked to establish the nature of the object.
Device found non-viable
Following an examination by bomb squad officers, the device was declared non-viable, meaning it posed no threat to the public. A spokesman for West Midlands Police confirmed the outcome in a statement, saying: "We were called to Rectory Road, Wordsley, shortly after 12pm today (Wed) after what was reported to be a grenade was discovered in a shed. The device was assessed and found to be non-viable."
The spokesman added: "Residents were evacuated for a short while and have since returned to their homes. We thank everyone for their patience and understanding while this was resolved."
School evacuation as precaution
During the incident, pupils at Fairhaven Primary School in nearby Barnett Lane were also evacuated as a safety measure. Parents were asked to collect their children from the school early, according to reports, as the police operation unfolded in the surrounding area.
The school's decision to send pupils home early was described as a precautionary step while the emergency services dealt with the reported device. It is understood that the evacuation of the school was carried out smoothly, with parents notified promptly.
Residents return home
Evacuated residents were able to return to their properties "a short while" after being moved out, the police spokesman confirmed. The cordon on Rectory Street was lifted once the device had been made safe and the area was declared clear.
The incident was resolved without injury or damage, and no further action was required by the police. The force expressed gratitude to the public for their cooperation during the temporary disruption.
