British town placed on lockdown after 'woman accidentally donates a live grenade to heritage centre' - as Army bomb squad experts are scrambled

A town centre has been placed in lockdown after a woman reportedly donated a live grenade to a heritage centre by accident, causing the Army bomb squad to rush to the scene. 

A witness said a woman had handed items - including the potentially explosive relic from the Second World War - to a site in Darwen, Lincolnshire.

They told The Sun she had unwittingly walked into the heritage centre and inadvertently handed over a grenade with the pin still in it.

Following the dangerous discovery police evacuated a large area of the town centre and cordoned off neighbouring streets to allow the bomb disposal experts to get to work. 

Just after 2pm a large emergency response was in attendance at the incident including police officers, firemen and ambulance crews.

Pictures from the scene show the commotion caused the town's central Market Square to be completely abandoned during a usually busy market day.

The square was being used for the Crafty Vintage market, held on the last Saturday of every month, with tents and stalls set up - but they had to all be abandoned. 

But a woman at a Hen Do across the street in a locked-down pub told The Sun all the men in uniform was 'exciting'.

'What more could a girl ask for all them men in uniform police fire and army and paramedics?'

'Even the bomb squad showed up and gave her a little wave.'

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed bomb disposal experts from Catterick Garrison in Yorkshire were called to help.

A spokesman for the MoD told The Mirror: 'We can confirm an Army Bomb Disposal team was called out to Darwen at the request of Lancashire Police. The item was safely moved to a safe distance and destroyed by demolition.' 

Just after 5pm police announced the lockdown had ended and roads were reopened. 

While the lockdown was in place, residents took to X/Twitter to share their shock at the unexpected turn of events. 

One person said on X: 'Apparently Darwen town centre is in lockdown an unexploded grenade has innocently been handed into the Heritage Centre. The pin was still in had to get Police and bomb disposal to remove it. Police and bomb disposal vehicles all over the town centre.' 

Another wrote: 'Only in Darwen could someone innocently take a live hand grenade to a food festival.'

A spokesman for Lincolnshire Police said earlier: 'We are currently at the scene of an ongoing incident at Market Hall, Darwen. Officers are currently at the scene and a cordon is in place.

'We are asking people to avoid the area for now and we will update you in due course.'