LIVE: 'Grenade' found in charity shop as police shut town centre road - latest updates

A road has been closed by police and a large cordon is in place after a suspected grenade was donated to a charity shop. The device was inside an item of furniture handed in to the shop, Greater Manchester Police have confirmed.

Mesnes Street in Wigan has been closed as a result, between Northway and Standishgate. Police said a cordon has been put in place as a result and 'specialist officers' are at the scene.

Police said officers received reports at 10.40am today - Sunday - that a suspected grenade contained within furniture was donated to a charity shop.

GMP said enquiries were ongoing, but there are not believed to be 'any malicious intentions'.

In a statement, GMP Wigan said: "At around 10.40am today (Sunday 1 May 2022), we received a report of a suspected grenade contained within furniture donated to a charity shop on Mesnes Street, Wigan.

"Specialist officers are in attendance. A cordon has been put in place as a precaution.

"Enquiries are ongoing but, at this stage, there are not believed to be any malicious intentions."

It's understood the fire service are also in attendance.

We'll be bringing you live updates from the scene.

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This is the second incident to involve a grenade in Greater Manchester in the last couple of days - although they are not thought to be linked in any way.

On Friday, a bomb squad descended onto a Middleton estate after a grenade was 'found in tub of ice cream'. Homes were evacuated as cops, firefighters and the army all attended. You can read more about that story here.

Police have just issued an update.

They say the grenade has been found not to be a 'viable explosive