Main Birmingham road closed over discovery in Small Heath canal

Police cordoned off Gospel Lane in Acocks Green

Police cordoned off a main road after a suspected WW2 shell was discovered in Small Heath. Cindy Payne was magnet fishing while fishing in a Small Heath canal on Friday, when she found the unusual device and was advised to get it checked out.

She took it to open land near Gospel Lane in Acocks Green and called the police who sealed off the road. EOD explosive experts were called and it was not found to contain any explosives. The cordon was then lifted.

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Ms Payne said: "I found it in the canal at small heath. I took it to the park because someone identified it and said it could be live. I thought it safe to take it to an open space rather than have it in my garden. Glad it was harmless."

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: "We were called at just after 10pm last night (Friday) after a suspected WW2 shell was discovered off Gospel Lane, Solihull. EOD explosives experts were called in and removed the device which was later found to have no explosives inside.

"A cordon put in place while checks were carried out has now been lifted."