Merseyside Police has since confirmed the device was a replica and no threat is posed to the public
Police on Briardale Road in Birkenhead this afternoon(Image: Iain Watts)
A couple waiting at home for their Asda order were told to leave after police thought they had found an unexploded bomb. Merseyside Police evacuated a small number of homes after the search of a house on Briardale Road in Birkenhead found what officers initially suspected to be an ordnance device.
A spokesperson for the force told the ECHO that advice had been sought from the army’s explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team. Following an assessment of the object, it was found to be a replica that posed no threat to the public. A spokesperson said residents have since been able to return to their homes.
A couple, who live on Briardale Road told the ECHO at the scene that they were asked to evacuate by Merseyside Police at around 10.30am. Speaking to the ECHO shortly after 1pm, they added the police had called and said it was safe to return around 30 minutes earlier.
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They said: “We got told to evacuate the house and have walked into town. We got a phone call telling us it was safe to come back. They had knocked on the door and said any chance you can get ready to leave. We were in our pyjamas waiting for an Asda delivery.
“We asked if there was any information about it and then went upstairs to get ready. When we came back down they said we had to leave. All we heard was that they had found a bomb and the bomb squad had to come out.
“The police officer said on the phone it was a replica. They didn’t give us much information – we wanted to know we were safe. We were just waiting for our delivery. We had the 9-10am slot so we walked into town and found out they had cancelled it.”
Merseyside Police removed a cordon around the area shortly after the ECHO arrived at the scene. Officers had previously been seen carrying out a search of the terraced house. Officers left the scene at around 1pm.
The search of the house was carried out following a stop and search by officers in the Birkenhead area last night. Police said just after 11.50pm on Saturday, January 4 officers stopped a vehicle at the junction of Brassey Street and Patten Street. Officers seized ammunition and the driver was detained.
A 63-year-old man from Oxton was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm without a certificate. He remains in custody for questioning.