This exploded and blew off a boy’s hand

Police released this harrowing picture of the 3ft-long explosive device which left 12-year-old J J Ashley with severe injuries.

A trail of blood was left at the scene of the incident, in Worsthorne, running from Lennox Street to his home in Gordon Street.

Today his family, including his dad, named by neighbours as Philip, were keeping a vigil at his bedside at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester.

The youngster, who neighbours said is known as John, is recovering in hospital following surgery on his hand yesterday.

He was among a group of youngsters who took a pipe containing shotgun cartridges from the yard of Worsthone Mini Skips, in Cross Street, at around 10pm on Thursday when it went off.

There was then a further blast which ripped off the boy's hand.

Police and army bomb disposal teams were called to the business.

The scene was cordoned off while the device was taken away and made safe.

It is believed the premises had problems with break-ins and vandalism in recent months.

The youngster, who was with a group, found the device in a business yard in Cross Street.

A neighbour, who lives in Hope Street, but asked not to be named, said the device was found in the garden of her home.

She said: "Police found what looked like a metal pipe in my garden and took it away. We are not sure whether he was sitting on our wall when it exploded. I was out at the time, but my husband was in watching television, but he didn't hear anything. I know his family and have been told he is in a bad way, but it's not life-threatening. It's such a shame, he always seemed a nice lad just a typical youngster."

Neighbour Ryan Hesketh, 33, of Gordon Street, Worsthorne, said: "My mum saw the bomb disposal squad at the mill at around 11pm and wondered what was going on.

"You don't expect things like that to happen to anybody. It's come as a complete shock because this is a quiet area."

Police have arrested the 62-year-old owner of Worsthorne Mini Skips on suspicion of wounding with intent.