Colchester: Bomb squad retrieves dug-up explosives

Sam Rodway was working when he was told by landscapers digging at his house in Bromley Road, Colchester, they had found bullets and a live grenade in his garden.

The 33-year-old explained when he jumped in his car to race home he was thinking: “Oh my God, my house is going to blow up”.

But despite all the drama, Mr Rodway admitted now the initial concern has passed he thinks what happened on Tuesday makes for a “pretty cool story”.

Discovery - grenades, ammunition and other Second World War items were dug up

He said: “The bomb squad came and told us and our neighbours to evacuate. They carried on digging and found a sack full of explosives and another full of bullets.”

As an investigation into how the lethal devices became buried in the garden was carried out, it transpired a 94-year-old former owner of the property had buried it there aged 17, in 1945.

Mr Rodway, who only moved into the house with partner Yasmeen Beeharry in February, said: “It’s something you don’t ever expect to happen.

“We’ve recently had a newborn baby and that’s what heightened the concern, I thought I just had to get everyone out. I feared my family were in danger.

Shocked - Yasmeen Beeharry and Sam Rodway

“It was a strange experience but looking back at it, it’s a pretty cool story.”

But the drama continued on Wednesday evening when Mr Rodway returned to his home to find yet another grenade in his garden.

A bomb squad had to return to ensure the area was safe after the shock discovery.

Find - a grenade found on Wednesday

Neighbour Will Reinhardt said he was “surprised and shocked” when he was told to evacuate his property.

An Army spokesman said: “We can confirm an Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team from Colchester Garrison was called out to attend an incident at Bromley Road, Colchester.

“Upon inspection, various Second World War-vintage grenades, mortars and ammunition were found in the garden of the property. The items were recovered by the team for safe disposal.”