Note: we are republishing this story which originally made the news in November 2015.
In a shocking turn of events, a woman in Back Hill found herself under police protection after an unexpected discovery of an unexploded bomb nestled within an old fruit tree in her garden.
Christine Battersby had sought the help of a specialist to remove a decaying apple tree from her residence. As the tree cutter descended to the trunk, a startling find unfolded – a hand grenade. Quick to act, the specialist immediately alerted the authorities, prompting a swift police response.
Recalling the incident, Mrs. Battersby emphasized the calm demeanor of the specialist and the rapid arrival of law enforcement. The ancient tree, potentially part of a monastic orchard due to Back Hill’s historical abundance of fruit trees, had been lifeless for several years, prompting Mrs. Battersby’s decision for its removal. The deliberate placement of the grenade within the tree raised intriguing questions about its origin.
Photo Credit: Viral Stories/Youtube
Glen Conway from Haddenham had nearly completed the tree removal when he stumbled upon the unexploded bomb nestled in a hollow at the tree’s base. Responding promptly to the discovery, the police cordoned off the area, urging the public to avoid the vicinity or stay indoors.
Colchester’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit swiftly dispatched experts to handle the potentially dangerous situation. As a precautionary measure, sandbags were strategically placed around the tree overnight before safely disposing of the grenade the following morning at around 8 am.