Explosive device found in raid on Shrewsbury home

AN EXPLOSIVE device was found during a raid on a house in Shrewsbury, police said today.

Police searched the property in Olive Cottages, Frankwell, at about 8.10pm yesterday and a bomb disposal team was called A suspicious item, which is believed by neighbours to be a home-made grenade, was found by the officers.

A man was arrested on suspicion of firearms offences.

Richard Ewels, spokesman for West Mercia Police, said: "Police carried out a firearms search warrant at an address in Frankwell last night."

He said: "A 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of firearms offences. Officers discovered a suspicious device which will be examined and destroyed today by the Army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit.

"Police are maintaining a scene guard as a safety precaution until the item is removed. The man is being questioned in custody at Shrewsbury Police Station today."

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence confirmed a specialist team had been dispatched to the property.

He said: "The EODU was called out at about 8.10pm.

"Our presence was requested by the police because they had found a suspicious object."

Sue Romei, who lives two doors away, said it was usually very quiet and residents were "gobsmacked" when the police turned up in force.

She said: "The police first arrived at about 8.30pm. I was just sitting in the front room and I remember thinking it wasn't normal for up here.

"Then the bomb squad came at about 9.30pm and we started to get worried. There is a family living next door to the house the police were in and they have a small baby.

"We were gobsmacked and nobody knew what was going on.

"We were told there had been a handmade grenade found under the stairs.

"If it had been dangerous they would have evacuated us. The police stayed overnight but I didn't sleep very well."

Ms Romei said she did not know the man who lives at the property very well.

She said: "He's quiet and keeps himself to himself. I last saw him coming home from work last night, but I have no idea where he is now.

" It's a sad situation."

By Russell Roberts and Sam Pinnington