The bomb squad blew up an "item" in an East Lancashire town today as a busy market was cordoned off.
The Army Bomb Disposal team were called to Darwen town centre this afternoon, April 27, by Lancashire Police.
Police officers cordoned off Darwen Market Square at Railway Road, Church Street and Croft Street at around 2pm.
The bomb squad moved an "item" to a safe distance and blew it up.
Local reports said a grenade had been discovered in a package handed in to the Heritage Centre in the town centre.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "We can confirm an Army Bomb Disposal team was called out to Darwen at the request of Lancashire Police.
"The item was safely moved to a safe distance and destroyed by demolition.”
The incident occurred while the Crafty Vintage Artisan Market took place on the market square.
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Stallholders were told to evacuate the area as police took control of the scene.
Laura Johnson, who runs Crafty Vintage, which held the artisan market, said: "We are just waiting for police direction for the stallholders to go back in.
"It was an amazing day, it was bright, buzzing, we had the square with lots of people here, lots of entertainment.
"We just had to clear the square and let the professionals in."
Ms Johnson said that everyone was "okay".
She added: "Police just said to evacuate and we evacuated, that was it really."
One stallholder said: "I'm not really sure what happened, we were just told to evacuate."
To see updates on the incident as it happened, read our live blog here: https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/24283164.updates-grenade-found-darwen-town-centre/
Earlier, a spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: "We are currently at the scene of an ongoing incident at Market Hall, Croft Street, Darwen.
"Officers are currently at the scene and a cordon is in place.
"We are asking people to avoid the area for now and we will update you in due course."
Lancashire Telegraph has asked for further information from the police on the incident.
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