Withington: Bomb scare at Manchester church coffee morning after live WWI shell brought to event

The incident occurred on Wednesday at St Paul's Church in Withington, Manchester, when a military history enthusiast brought three artillery shells, believed to date back to WWI, to show a fellow enthusiast. Unbeknownst to the individual, one of the shells still had a fuse attached, posing a potential danger.

According to the Manchester Evening News, the live shell was then taken to the local fire station, where firefighters quickly recognised the risk and instructed those present to "back away."

Greater Manchester Police were alerted just after 11am to reports of a suspicious device on Wilmslow Road. A 25-meter cordon was immediately set up and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was called to the scene to handle the situation. The device was later safely destroyed in a controlled detonation.

The military enthusiast, who chose to remain anonymous, explained to MEN that they had received the items from a friend who had recovered them from the site of the Battle of the Somme in northern France.

Reverend Cate Allison, a priest at St Paul's Withington, said: "On Wednesday, during our church coffee morning, a visitor brought in historic devices believed to date back to the early to mid-twentieth century."

“When volunteers became aware of these items, they acted immediately ensuring that they were taken to Withington Fire Station for expert advice. The fire department contacted the bomb disposal unit to ensure the situation was handled safely."

She said all the necessary precautions were implemented to protect local residents, and the church is "grateful for the support of our community and the swift response of the emergency services".