Bomb squad investigates 'suspicious items' at school with kids told to stay away

04 January 2023 , 12:58

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The bomb squad is investigating (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Schoolchildren have been warned to stay at home today as the bomb squad investigates a suspicious item taken on to their school playing fields.

Youngsters were set to return to Ellowes Hall Sports College in Dudley for the first day back after the Christmas break on Wednesday January 4, but parents woke up to a message telling them to stay clear.

Army bomb disposal experts had been called in after unusual items were discovered by a member of the public on land at around 10pm last night and were taken to the safety of the school fields.

The school was not connected to the discovery but decided to remain closed as investigations by the by Explosive Ordnance Disposal operators continued, police said.

A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said: "We were called by a member of the public at around 10.20pm yesterday after the discovery of suspicious items on land near Old Quarry Drive, in Upper Gornal.

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Ellowes Hall Sports College in Dudley (Google)

"As a precaution, the items were taken to playing fields at Ellowes Hall Sports College so that they can be examined by the Army's EOD team.

"We are liaising with the school, which is not connected with the discovery."

She added: "The school has decided to close today while our investigations continue."

A school spokesman added: "I can confirm that Ellowes Hall Sports College is closed today due to a police incident unrelated to the school.

"We are waiting for further details to be communicated to us."

Police were called to the scene (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Elsewhere, on New Year's Day, a beach was evacuated as people were walking the coastline to see in 2023 after a bomb washed up.

The World War Two shell was spotted on the pebbles at Brighton beach in East Sussex close to the Palace Pier.

The crowds were moved back but stayed to watch as officers from the Army's bomb disposal unit were called in to detonate the device.

The crowd cheered as the device exploded pushing the beach's famous pebbles in the air.

Kelly-Ann Mills