Army and police called to 'grenade' in Bridgewater Canal

Emergency services were called close to Brooklands Metrolink, off Marsland Road, at around 6.30pm on Sunday.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said there was a 100-metre cordon to allow for a controlled explosion by The Army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal team.

Luke Hayes was one of three people to pull the "grenade" out of the canal along with brother Joshua White and friend Shannon Stone after the trio went magnet fishing.

Mr Hayes, from Northern Moor, said: "We were there for around two hours pulling out bits of metal. Towards the end of the day I said we would do it one more time and this is when my brother pulled out a bit of metal which looked like a bolt but I said it was a grenade. 

"I ensured everyone was far away from it but it was excitement as well as a bit of fear."

Mr Hayes started magnet fishing after he saw a six-year-old story about a grenade in the Bridgewater Canal.

He said it was his third time magnet fishing after he received the magnet from friend Ms Stone for Christmas.

He said: "After speaking to the officers they said it was a World War One grenade.

"I thought the fact of finding something more than 100 years old was fascinating."

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: "Police were called at around 6.30pm to a report of a suspected grenade near Brooklands Metrolink on Marsland Road.

"In line with procedure Explosive Ordnance Disposal attended and a 100 metre cordon was put in place whilst the device was detonated following a controlled explosion and disposed of. Greater Manchester Police would like to thank the local community for their co-operation."

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.