BLACKPOOL'S South Pier had to be evacuated on Tuesday (May 20) after a hand grenade was found on the beach.

Members of staff and nearly 100 members of the public who were forced to leave the area and stand in the pouring rain for nearly two hours after arcade manager Alan Atkinson was handed the grenade by a member of the public.

The anonymous gift bearer, said to be in his 50s, claimed to have found it on the beach below the pier at 3.55pm, forcing a complete evacuation by police and the calling out of the bomb disposal squad from Liverpool.

As interest gathered about what was going on, two soldiers from the bomb disposal squad walked in and came out to waiting staff - to tell them it was a replica, little more than a toy.

General manager Peter Walters said he was impressed with his staff, adding: "Everyone was very efficient. At the request of the police we were asked to evacuate the buildings, which took just four minutes.

"It is certainly the first time I have seen something like this happen in all my years of experience, but it was reassuring to see everything done so quickly."

Alan added: "Fortunately, this isn't the sort of thing which happens every day."

The pier was re-opened shortly after 6pm.

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