TWO ROADS in Salisbury had to be cordoned off when a live grenade was pulled out of the river Avon this week.

The grenade was eventually disarmed by the bomb squad in a live-safe explosion.

It was found by the same man who's discoveries led to the police corden on Fisherton Recreation Ground last week. 

Salisbury Journal: Image: Paul d'arcyImage: Paul d'arcy (Image: Paul d'arcy)

Paul D’arcy discovered the grenade when out magnet fishing.

He said: “I knew the grenade had the pin in it and was very careful when I took the magnet from it. I called the police and they arrived in minutes sirens blazing. The area was quickly cordoned off and we had to wait for the bomb squad.”

Paul added: “It is amazing though that this has happened twice in one week.”

Read more: River Avon turns green

On March 2, Paul found what Wiltshire Police described as “suspected historic munitions”.

One was exploded but the other was mainly intact but had been damaged. The items were pulled from the River Avon.

Paul admitted he had apologised to the police for finding the grenade but said the police understood the implications and had told him they would rather the dangerous finds were out of the water and made safe.

Read more: Bomb squad called after grenade found

Paul used a powerful magnet which enables the extraction of items that are even deeply buried in the silt.

To date, guns, knives, and grenades have been pulled from the rivers in and around Salisbury.

He said: “I get a lot of scrap and don’t make any profit from it. Basically, the scrap dealers are cleaning up my mess and today, there was a lot of scrap.”

Paul loves the sense of the unknown.

He said: “You never know what you will find. It is mostly trash but sometimes, treasure. The sword I found yesterday (Monday, March 6) has been dated to 1788 and was a British-made cavalry sword. I have checked with the historic finds and don’t have to report it, but I would like to preserve it.”

Paul used to be a metal detectorist but found that magnet fishing was far better.

“I will carry on magnet fishing for as long as am here. I still have more rivers to check.”