The Embankment, Albany Road and Newnham Road were closed this afternoon by Police.
Bedfordshire Police have told the Bedford Independent that a device, believed to be an unexploded grenade, had been found in the river nearby.
At the time, a spokesperson said: “There is not believed to be any risk posed to the wider public, however a cordon is in place and the immediate area has been evacuated as a precaution while we await Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officers.”
Bedfordshire Police and EOD took the device to Priory Park, where it was destroyed in a controlled explosion shortly after 7.20pm.
The roads were reopened around 6 pm.
This is a breaking news story and may be updated as the situation develops…
