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World War Two ordnance detonated after being found in Quinton garden

Northamtonshire Police OrdnanceNorthamtonshire Police
The grenades were for the use of the Home Guard - Britain's volunteer civilian defence force that was portrayed in BBC TV's classic comedy Dad's Army

A "demolition detonation" has taken place on 62 World War Two grenades that were found in a garden.

The fire service, police and explosive ordnance disposal teams were sent to School Lane, Quinton, Northamptonshire, at 14:43 BST on Monday.

About 20 homes were evacuated while work was carried out to "safely dispose of the devices", police said.

A "successful demolition of 62 items" took place at about 12:30 on Wednesday, the fire service said.

"The demolition detonation was carried out by the bomb disposal team from the Royal Logistic Corps," the service said on Twitter.

Kevin Hardwick, area commander for Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, said the devices were "designed to be used by the Home Guard against militarised vehicles".

World War Two grenades detonated in Northamptonshire garden
Steve Hubbard/BBC Alasdair FraserSteve Hubbard/BBC
Insp Alasdair Fraser said he hoped residents could return to their homes after the controlled explosion

Insp Alasdair Fraser said the grenades were "placed in a skip" before a "controlled explosion" was carried out.

He said it took three days to move all the items as they were "quite volatile".

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service Emergency services at sceneNorthamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service
The emergency services have held daily updates for residents in the village hall

Emergency services remained at the scene after the explosion with fire crews "entering into operation to damp down the scene and carry out further assessments", police said.

A briefing was due to take place at the village hall "for any village residents to allay any concerns or fears", the force said.

Steve Hubbard/BBC Andy BaileySteve Hubbard/BBC
Resident Andy Bailey said the village had pulled together during the incident

Resident Andy Bailey said the people living on School Lane were "obviously very worried about their properties".

"People have had to go to friends and others have been taken in within the village," he said.

"So people have been pulling together."

Mr Bailey said it would be "nice to get back some sort of reality" after the items had been dealt with.

"People here would be very, very pleased to get back into their houses," he said.

Steve Hubbard/BBC Emergency services at sceneSteve Hubbard/BBC
Emergency services have been at the scene since the items were discovered on Monday
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