Greater Manchester Police rushed to the waterside when the alarm was raised shortly after 7.50am this morning. A local business owner told of how she was approached by the fisherman shortly after he had pulled the suspected explosive from the water.
Joan Ward, who operates a food van, said: “A chap came for a cup of tea and said ‘I’ve just fished a bomb of out the canal so I phoned the police.'”
She said a nearby shop was evacuated and he was ordered to pack up for the day.
She added: “He’s still there now talking to them and the bomb’s on the side of the canal.
“A number of buildings have been evacuated and some road closures are in place as a precaution at this time.”
John Flanagan, a Labour councillor in the Miles Platting and Newton Heath ward, thanked officers for their help.
He tweeted: “Thanks to GMP and the bomb squad for their response. Stay safe.”
One person working in the area said they were told the discovery was an “inert shell”.
Northern Rail said due to the discovery of a “wartime bomb” services were disrupted.
They tweeted: “Due to a wartime bomb near the railway between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge all lines are blocked.”
They said services running through the two stations “may be cancelled or delayed by up to 30 minutes” and added: “Disruption is expected until 1pm.”
The train operator later announced services had resumed.
They said: “Disruption caused by a wartime bomb near the railway between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge has now ended.
“Services are no longer affected by this problem.”
Businesses which had been ordered to evacuate their premises later confirmed staff were allowed back in.
