Derbyshire Police have provided an update after a suspected piece of Second World War ordnance was discovered in a garden in Glossop, leading to the evacuation of a number of homes and the establishment of a cordon in the town centre.
Discovery and Immediate Response
The incident occurred on Sunday, with police cars observed on High Street West following the discovery on nearby Chapel Street. One man who found the item while gardening reported that emergency crews escalated the situation, calling in explosives specialists. It was initially suggested that the device dated back to World War Two.
Police confirmed that a cordon was put in place in Glossop town centre as a precaution. A spokesperson said: "A cordon is in place in Glossop town centre following an unexploded piece of what is believed to be WW2 ordnance found in the garden of a property in Chapel Street. A number of homes have been evacuated in the area as a precaution while we await the arrival of the Army’s bomb disposal team at the scene."
Army Bomb Disposal Assessment
The force added that anyone not directly spoken to by officers did not require evacuation at that time and that further information would be provided as soon as possible. Army bomb disposal experts subsequently arrived at the scene to assess the ordnance.
Following their assessment, police issued an update stating that the cordon had been lifted. A spokesperson said: "Army bomb disposal experts have arrived and found that the ordnance did not contain any explosives."
Impact and Aftermath
Witnesses reported that local residents and nearby businesses were temporarily evacuated by emergency crews after the alarm was raised. The incident prompted a significant police presence, with multiple units responding to the scene. The discovery of suspected wartime ordnance in residential areas is not uncommon in the UK, where remnants of past conflicts occasionally surface during gardening or construction work.
Police thanked the public for their patience and cooperation during the incident. The evacuation was lifted once the ordnance was confirmed to be inert, allowing residents to return to their homes.
