Homes evacuated after workmen dig up a '˜suspicious device' near Preston

Residents from 10 homes were evacuated after the discovery of a suspicious device in Walton-le-Dale.
The shell dug up by workmen in Walton-le-DaleThe shell dug up by workmen in Walton-le-Dale
The shell dug up by workmen in Walton-le-Dale

Contractors digging a hole on a building site in Walnutwood unearthed what appeared to be a wartime shell and police immediately threw a tight cordon around the area.

Bomb disposal officers were called out to examine the object and residents were taken to a temporary shelter as a precaution.

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More than three hours later the Army announced the shell was a spent mortar which was taken away and the cordon lifted.

A police spokesman said: “We were called in at 2pm after a contractor working on a building site in Walnutwood, Walton-le-Dale, discovered a suspicious device while he was digging a hole.

“A cordon was set up around the area and 10 homes were evacuated.

“Bomb disposal experts were called in to look at the object and a temporary shelter was set up for the people who had left their homes.

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“But when the Army examined it they found it was some kind of mortar which had already been detonated. So it wasn’t posing any danger.”

A Lancashire Fire service spokesman said: “Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service’s air support unit attended a report of a suspected mortar found on Walnutwood Avenue in Bamber Bridge. The drone was used to take images of the mortar before an explosive ordnance disposal team confirmed that the item was a spent device and it was removed.”

After more than three hours the householders were allowed back into their homes.

A spokesperson for Persimmon Homes said: “Landscape work was being carried out at our Pear Tree Gardens development at Walton-le-Dale when a suspicious object was found.

“We immediately notified the police who dealt with the matter.”