Emergency services descended on a quiet canal-side path this afternoon after a five-year-old boy pulled an artillery shell out from the canal in Ashton under Lyne.
William Nixon, 51, was out with two of his sons, five-year-old Leo and seven-year-old Riley, and friend Andrew, 49, magnet fishing in the canal this morning, June 19. The group, who are known online as the Leeds Magneters, were just about to finish at their spot at the bottom of Margaret Street and head to another bridge when little Leo unearthed an artillery shell, which is believed to date back to WWII.
The shell was discovered at around 11.50am, according to Mr Nixon, with police being called to the scene and putting a cordon in place for the bomb disposal experts to be called in. Greater Manchester Police had set up a cordon around the canal, which branches off from Cavendish Street and down several side streets, with the main scene focused around the bridge on Margaret Street where the shell was discovered.
