SUSPECTED grenades which triggered an evacuation of Weston-super-Mare Town Hall have now been taken away by the bomb squad.

The town hall was evacuated and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team called in after two suspected grenades were brought into the building yesterday (Tuesday February 20).

An individual had brought a bag of knives and suspected ammunition to hand over to the police enquiry desk located in the town hall for disposal.

But upon searching the bag, two suspected grenades, believed to be historic, were found. The building, which contains Weston Central Library and North Somerset Council offices, was evacuated to a respite centre set up at the Tropicana and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was called in.

In a statement issued just before 4pm, a spokesperson for North Somerset Council said: “The devices have now been collected by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team and so staff are able to return to the Town Hall which will reopen to the public tomorrow morning.

“Our thanks to Avon and Somerset Police and the EOD team for their prompt responses, and to our own teams and officers for making sure people were evacuated promptly and safely, and providing a respite area for evacuated staff.”

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police added: “The EOD has attended and the suspected grenades have been taken away and officers have come away from the scene.”