Bomb scare on quiet Cheadle street was triggered by family members clearing deceased man's home

The bomb squad unit was scrambled to a quiet Stockport street after a suspected historic grenade was found at the home of a man who recently died.

Emergency services began descending on Demmings Road in Cheadle on Tuesday (October 1). Police, paramedics, fire crews, and the army bomb disposal unit all attended the scene and could be seen outside a semi-detached property on the street.

Neighbours have now told the Manchester Evening News that the man who lived there, said to be in his 60s, died last week. It is understood family members were clearing out the property when they came across the suspect item and alerted the emergency services. One nearby resident said they had been told it was a 'deactivated hand grenade.'

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They said the man who had lived there was a 'hoarder who used to collect things.' What is believed to have been a controlled explosion was carried out on a field nearby at around 8pm.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have been contacted for further information. Locals said there was 'no sense of panic' as the emergency services arrived and that the police reassured them it was 'precautionary.'

George Edwards, 73, who has lived on the street for 20 years said: "They first started arriving about midday" he said. "Then eventually the bomb disposal unit came. It's not every day you see them outside your front door so I went out and asked what has happening.

"The police officer said they had found a device of some sort, but wouldn't say what. He said it was precautionary at the moment. There was certainly no sense of panic. There were a lot of people hanging around and having a look. But there was no problem. It was obvious they had it all in hand."

Another said: "I noticed some fire engines and police cars on the street about half three or four o'clock. I heard there was a grenade that was discovered. They didn't know so they wanted to get it checked out. The man who lived there died last week.

"It didn't shock me too much as you have you to be careful with public safety. I think what was done was right."

A third added: "I came home from work and they were all already here. The bomb disposal unit arrived and there were a couple of guys in army uniform. They looked relax, but I suppose you have to in that job. It didn't bother me at all, it looked like they had it all in hand."

At around 7:30pm emergency services began leaving the Demmings Road scene however several of them gathered further up the road, close to where a controlled explosion of the device is said to have been carried out.

An eyewitness reported hearing a 'loud bang' coming from a field.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “Shortly after 4.20pm today (Tuesday 1 October), two fire engines from Stockport and Cheadle were called to attend an incident on Demmings Road, Cheadle.

"Crews arrived quickly and are working alongside colleagues from Greater Manchester Police to make the area safe. Firefighters remain in attendance at this time.”

A GMP spokesperson added: "At around 3.30pm this afternoon (1 October), police were called to a report that a suspected historic grenade had been found in a property on Demmings Road in Cheadle.

"A cordon was put in place and bomb disposal officers have since made the item safe."