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Moment grenade found in Minster man's back garden is blown up by Ministry of Defence experts

18:00, 21 March 2014

A Minster man has unearthed a live grenade in his back garden today - before it was blown up in a controlled explosion.

Casey Gleed was at his father-in-law Roger Griffin's home shoveling soil to put in new fencing when the explosive device rolled to his feet this morning.

After initially not knowing what it was, the 21-year-old picked it up and handed it to Mr Griffin at about 10.50am.

The grenade found by Casey Gleed was blown up. Picture: Alex Goodspeed
The grenade found by Casey Gleed was blown up. Picture: Alex Goodspeed

The 66-year-old rubbed some of the dirt off and when he confirmed what it was, he placed it on the grass and marked it with a blue bucket.

He called the police and an officer took a photograph and sent it to the Ministry of Defence.

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal team arrived 40 minutes later and took the munition to Minster Cliffs, where it was destroyed in a controlled explosions at around 1.30pm.

Casey Gleed and Roger Griffin next to the fence panel where the grenade was found
Casey Gleed and Roger Griffin next to the fence panel where the grenade was found

Mr Griffin said: "You could feel the weight of it. it wasn't just an empty shell. It was all dirty and the pin had rusted away."

He said when the policeman returned later, he confirmed it had been live because of the size of the crater it left when it was destroyed.

Bomb disposal experts in Minster. Picture: Alex Goodspeed
Bomb disposal experts in Minster. Picture: Alex Goodspeed

Mr Griffin, who has lived in his house in Minster Road for 20 years, said he has no idea how the grenade got there.

However, he said it might have been disturbed when a new car park at the Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey was built behind his house last year.

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