Skip to content

Dartmoor homes evacuated after gardener finds metal object

News imageDevon and Cornwall Police The item reported by a gardener to be a grenadeDevon and Cornwall Police
The object was taken away by ordnance disposal experts

People were evacuated from their homes after a gardener reported finding a grenade, which later turned out to be a piece of metal, experts have said.

Devon and Cornwall Police said officers were called to Two Bridges Road, in Princetown, on Dartmoor, at lunchtime on Tuesday.

A 50m (164ft) cordon was put in place and about 20 homes evacuated.

The Royal Navy's Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit removed the object and later confirmed it was not a device.

A Royal Navy spokeswoman added: "The Devonport Bomb Disposal Unit were called to the scene but the metal found was non-ordnance."

Police said the cordon was lifted at about 13:30 BST when residents were allowed to return to their properties.

News imagepresentational grey line

Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].