Note: we are republishing this story which originally made the news in November 2015.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.