NEIGHBOURS were evacuated after a live hand grenade was discovered at the home of a pensioner who had recently died.
The bomb disposal unit was alerted on Friday afternoon (Aug 11) after relatives of the dead pensioner, who lived in Rochdale Old Road, discovered the explosive in a bedroom cabinet.
It is believed the pineapple-shaped grenade had been kept from the Second World War.
Police sealed off the house and the neighbouring properties at 4pm as Army bomb experts from Liverpool were given an escort from the M66 motorway to the scene.
It was discovered that the firing pin had been removed some time ago and the grenade was active.
The bomb disposal unit later disposed of the hand grenade.
Residents were allowed back into their homes shortly after 5.30pm.
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