Edinburgh street closed as grenade is destroyed in controlled explosion

Police: The area is cordoned off while the bomb squad deal with the grenade.© STV

A main street in Edinburgh has been closed while a grenade is destroyed in a controlled explosion.

The bomb disposal team were called to Melville Street garden in the west end of the city when the grenade was found in a garden on Thursday.

They planned to carry out a controlled explosion at 10am on Friday, closing the street, which is one of the main alternative routes to Shandwick Place, currently shut to traffic due to tram works.

The bomb was discovered during evacuation work in a garden on the street.

Police were called at 4.25pm on Thursday and cordoned off the area while the explosives team inspected the item, which is from the Second World War.

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: "Police responded to an address in Melville Street, Edinburgh following the discovery of an old military grenade.The device, which is believed to be a remnant from Second World War munitions was unearthed during excavation work within a garden area and police and the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit were contacted.

"Officers maintained a cordon around the property while EOD staff assessed the grenade, which they plan to make safe by way of a controlled detonation. This incident does not present a serious risk to the public as the item will be disposed of in a controlled environment with no public access."

Melville Street will be reopened once the controlled explosion has been carried out.

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