17-05-2025
Primary school evacuated after child brings grenade to 'show and tell'
Bomb disposal squad were called out during a shocking incident on Friday.
A primary school was forced to evacuate after a pupil brought in a very unusual item to a show-and-tell assembly sparking a bomb scare.
Bomb disposal squad were called out during a shocking incident on Friday. The youngster reportedly produced a WW2 grade 5 explosive device during the assembly.
Brave head teacher, Jeanette Heart has told how she took the device from the boy even though she was 'unsure if the grenade was live'. She then hit the grenade behind a 'substantial' tree in the school's car park.
As the Mirror reports, the shocking incident happened at Osmaston CofE Primary School in Ashbourne, Derbyshire. Children were quickly moved to safety while police and army explosive experts descended on the school. Police later praised the 'quick-thinking' staff.
Army experts arrived on the scene and carried out some checks before later establishing the grenade, which was a family heirloom he had picked up without telling his parents, was safe.
Mrs Hart said: "It was quite an eventful assembly. It was going fine and there was a boy who brought an old bullet case in, which I knew about, but then his friend produced a hand grenade from his pocket. That, I was not expecting."
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Speaking to the BBC about the unusual incident Mrs Hart said she 'tried to avoid a panic' when she realised the pupil was holding the grenade. She said: "It looked old and I thought it might be safe but I didn't want to take the risk. I ended the assembly, took it off him and slowly carried it outside and put it behind a far tree in the car park. I wasn't 100 percent happy carrying it to be honest."
"It was entirely innocent,' she added. 'I don't think he ever really knew what it was. We'd been talking about VE Day and he knew it was from the war and just thought it was an interesting thing. His family didn't know and they were a little taken aback."
Derbyshire Police said army explosives experts determined the grenade was safe using X-ray equipment and urged parents to check what their children are taking to school after the shocking incident. In a statement on the Matlock, Cromford, Wirksworth and Darley Dale Police Safer Neighbourhood Team Facebook page the force said: "We even got to see those [X-ray] images and [were] told a detailed analysis of how there was nothing that would set the grenade off.
The post concluded with some important advice for parents: "Just a word of guidance for parents and guardians - double check what your kids are taking to show-and-tell, especially when they are family heirlooms."
