A device which exploded outside a café in Salford was packed with nails and screws, the M.E.N. can reveal.

It was left under the shutters of The Lounge in Concord Place, Douglas Green, Pendleton earlier this week.

It caused damage to the shutters, canopy, windows and pavement.

A loud bang, at around 12.30am on Tuesday, could be heard across Greater Manchester.

(Image: ASP)

It came after a Vauxhall Corsa car was badly damaged when an industrial style firework was attached to the rear of the vehicle in a street in Eccles three days earlier.

GMP have said the nature of the device at the café is still the subject of forensic examination.

But a source told the M.E.N: “It was packed full of nails and screws and forensics have been pulling them all out of the woodwork.”

A second source close the investigation confirmed that nails were in the device.

(Image: ASP) (Image: ASP)

Police have said they believe there could be a link between both incidents. Bomb disposal units were dispatched to both incidents. A baffled family in Grafton Avenue, where the car was blown up after a firework was attached to the exhaust, said they had no idea as to why it was targeted.

Gina and Tom Harrison say a firework placed in the exhaust pipe of a friend’s car tore the bumper and back lights off the vehicle.

The couple’s son, Tom, was upstairs watching football with his friend when they heard a car ‘screeching’ down the road at around 6.30pm.

When the young men looked outside they saw a ‘red glow’ underneath the car and heard a ‘huge bang’.

Four men have been arrested on suspicion of possession of explosives after a dramatic police chase.

At about 7pm on Thursday officers saw a Lexus car on Stockport Road, which was thought to be stolen and linked to the explosions.

Officers followed the Lexus for a short time before it stopped and reversed, ramming the police car near to Regent Road in Salford.

The occupants of the car abandoned the vehicle and attempted to escape on foot but officers soon caught up with them and detained them.

The men, aged 20, 24, 24, and 29, have since been bailed pending further enquiries.