Bird scarer causes bomb alert

Bird scarer causes bomb alert

Dozens of homes were evacuated in Birmingham after a bird-scaring device sparked a bomb alert.

Police were called to Brandwood Park Road, in Kings Heath, on Sunday afternoon.

A number of residents had called police to say they had heard a series of small bangs in the back yard of an empty block of maisonettes.

Officers found gas cylinders with wires attached to them.

Homes evacuated

As a precautionary measure nearby homes were evacuated.

Army bomb disposal experts were called in and the device was identified as a bird-scaring device.

Police say they are making inquiries as to who set up the machine, which makes periodic explosive noises to scare birds, in an empty property.

A West Midlands Police spokesman thanked residents for the patience they showed during the alert.