Area evacuated as police deployed to Lincoln dig

Update: Police confirm ‘suspected WW2 grenade’ was agricultural part

A university building on Newport has been evacuated and people have been told to avoid the area while police investigate an item found in an archeological dig.

There is a significant police presence on Newport following the discovery.

People were told to leave Bishop Grosseteste University’s LORIC site, where the discovery was made.

Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Lincolnshire Police said there was no cause for concern.

Bishop Grosseteste said in a statement the item was a suspected WW2 grenade, but police did not confirm this:

“Bishop Grosseteste University are working with Lincolnshire Police to investigate a suspected World War 2 grenade uncovered by an archaeological dig this morning at our Lincolnshire Open Research and Innovation Centre (LORIC) this morning.

“At this time our main concern is the safety of our staff and students and therefore we have evacuated our LORIC building. The rest of campus is currently unaffected.

The university posted on the LORIC Facebook page on June 7, as preparations for the dig began. Photo: LORIC

“Thank you to all our students and staff for reacting swiftly to this incident. Official updates will be sent out via our website and social media channels as soon as more information is available.”

A university student told The Lincolnite archaeology students began the dig on Wednesday, June 12.

A Lincolnshire Police spokesperson said: “We’re asking people to avoid the Newport area of Lincoln, while we investigate.

“At the moment we are awaiting further information and we’ll update as soon as we can.”