A mum found a "grenade" in the fireplace after a wall in the flat collapsed and trapped her two sons.
The family living in 14 Albert Road, in Southport, had only been back home for three weeks after an internal wall collapsed in the basement apartment at the start of January. The collapse trapped Sean Ellison and his brother in the rubble before they were rescued.
On Friday, Sean's mum Penny found a practice grenade while clearing out the fireplace in the room where the wall collapsed. Police and bomb squad were called to the building shortly before 11am before the device was removed.
READ MORE : Nan finds 'grenade' in fireplace while cleaning out home
Homes in the area were evacuated and a cordon was put in place while officers dealt with the incident. No one was hurt in either incident but neighbours have been calling the whole experience a "soap opera" that "nobody would believe".
Speaking about what happened, Sean, 46, said: "The wall that we now know was a retaining wall collapsed in on us. It was determined later on that the previous owners had removed a staircase and a buttress wall.
"We were stood there and the whole lot came down on me and my brother burying the two of us. It took about 20 mins before a friend passed us and came in to dig us out."
After finding the grenade, Penny, 63, told the ECHO:"I was pulling the soil out and in amongst the dirt and bricks I picked up this heavy metal object which looked to be a grenade.
"So I walked through the kitchen and Sean was sawing at the time and I stood behind him as he could not hear me and I said 'Sean I think I have found a grenade'. He took it outside and phoned the police."
Sean had bought the apartment as a development project to work on before the wall collapsed in January. He said: "I was buried up to my neck in the rubble with my brother and could not move. I was pinned down just shouting for someone to come and get us.
"Even the hospital was shocked that we got out of there alive. We were saying that after the collapse and the repairs have been completed that at least it is safe now but then my mum walks into the kitchen with a grenade in her hand. Hopefully this is the last of our problems."
Couple Sue Burchell and Shaun Croman have lived at number 14 Albert Road for the past three years. Sue had been in the shower on January 8 when she heard an almighty crash coming from the apartment downstairs.
After coming out of the shower to investigate the noise she noticed a crack in her bedroom wall. Sue and her partner Shaun were inspecting the crack when the floor gave out and their bed fell three metres into the basement apartment below.
Lucky Sean and his brother had escaped before the contents of Sue's bedroom could crash down upon them.
Speaking to the ECHO Sue said: "It is surreal we have only been back home for three weeks but I think we have taken it in our stride now. The only people that haven't visited us this year is the coast guard so maybe they will be next.
"You could not make this up we need our own soap opera called Albert Place. I think it would beat Albert Square any day of the week."
Sean Ellison said: "It seems everything is fine now let's just hope it does not come in threes".
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