Vicar’s wife discovers suspected WW2 grenade while digging in garden in Ipswich

Police and the Bomb Disposal Unit investigate reports of an unexploded hand grenade on Portman Road in Ipswich. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN Archant

The bomb squad have been called following the discovery of a suspected unexploded World War Two hand grenade in Ipswich.

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Police and the Bomb Disposal Unit investigate reports of an unexploded hand grenade on Portman Road in Ipswich. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN Police and the Bomb Disposal Unit investigate reports of an unexploded hand grenade on Portman Road in Ipswich. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN

Terry Atkins, the wife of the Rector of St Matthews church, was digging in her garden at the new rectory this afternoon when she discovered a pineapple-shaped metal object among the mud.

She said she didn’t know what to make of it at first.

“I was digging in the garden because I wanted to plant something and there was all sorts of bricks coming up,” she said.

“It was over by the fence.

The family took this photo of the pinapple shaped metal object unearthed in their garden. Picture: REV NICK ATKINS The family took this photo of the pinapple shaped metal object unearthed in their garden. Picture: REV NICK ATKINS

“Then I said to my husband ‘I think I have found a grenade’.

“We are always finding bits of stuff in the garden so I thought it was probably just a bit of rubble.

“I thought we would just leave it there.

“When the rest of the family came back they said you must call the police.”

The object was discovered while Mrs Atkins was digging in the garden ths afternoon. Picture: REV NICK ATKINS The object was discovered while Mrs Atkins was digging in the garden ths afternoon. Picture: REV NICK ATKINS

They took a few photos of the object and called police.

Mrs Atkins said: “I couldn’t believe it when the police arrived and we all had to get out.

“We were all sitting outside and then the police came along and put a 50 metre exclusion area up.”

A spokesman for Suffolk police said they were called to the incident at around 3.30pm and initially put a 50-metre cordon in place.

Police and the Bomb Disposal Unit investigate reports of an unexploded hand grenade on Portman Road in Ipswich. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN Police and the Bomb Disposal Unit investigate reports of an unexploded hand grenade on Portman Road in Ipswich. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN

The corden has since been removed following advice from the bomb disposal team.

He said: “We were called at 3.30pm following reports that a suspected World War Two hand grenade had been found at a property in Portman Road.

“A 50-metre cordon was initially put in place but on advice from the bomb disposal team, it has since been removed.

“The road was cleared and the bomb disposal team are en-route.”

Update: A controlled explosion of the grenade took place in Gippeswyk Park in the town just before 7pm.