Photo – the Yorkshire Magneteers Credit: YappApp
ARMY explosive experts cordoned off part of a Dewsbury canal on Sunday after magnet fishers pulled a mortar bomb out of the water.
The team from the Yorkshire Magneteers group made the extraordinary find in the Calder & Hebble Navigation at Lock Street. Police attended and closed off the area and ordnance disposal experts dealt with the World War Two device.
Magnet fishing – where people hunt for metal submerged in canals and rivers – is increasing in popularity nationwide.
Ian Platt, the magneteer who pulled out the bomb, said: “I knew what it was straight away. I shouted ‘mortar bomb’ and everybody ran. We went about 50 yards in each direction and cordoned the area off.”
A bomb disposal team confirmed the device was live and put it in a special container before driving it away. The area was cordoned off for around three hours.
