WW2 bombs found in Devon removed and destroyed

Residents have been allowed to return home following the removal of two World War Two bombs discovered in Devon.

The German bombs were discovered on Wednesday afternoon - one was dredged up in Exmouth Marina and the other was found on a building site in the Millbay area of Plymouth.

About 2,500 properties in a 600m (1,312ft) cordon in Exmouth were affected, with people advised to leave their homes and they were allowed to return from 06:30 GMT after the bomb was moved out to sea. It was destroyed in a controlled detonation at 08:13, authorities said.

Residents were also evacuated in Plymouth between 23:00 and 03:00 while the bomb was transported through the area, taken out to sea and detonated.

The plans to move the bombs followed an examination of the devices using specialist X-ray equipment on Thursday.

Col Darren Fisher, commander of the 29 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group, said identifying the type of fuse in the bombs was key to ensuring they would not detonate when being moved.

He said: "Really the complexity of the task was the state in which those devices were and also the positioning in which they were found by the operators to identify that fuse."

Councillor Paul Arnott, leader of East Devon District Council, said the town was going back to business as usual.

"It's amazing really, it's surreal, suddenly you get that sense of freedom," Arnott said.

"I think the civil operation that's been mounted here, the co-operation between the LED staff, district officers, county council officers, the people of Exmouth Town Council as well, it has been remarkable.

"The patience with which the people of Exmouth responded to this is a real surprise."

Fiona Bolt, whose home and business was within the cordon in Exmouth, said she was "so relieved" the ordeal was over.

"It's been a wake up call, an eye-opener of what goes on, we've had a little snippet of how life can be thrown into turmoil," she said.

"I feel so sorry now for people who live through this day-in, day-out, because I think I've been on high alert the whole time, just trying to cope with what's coming along and changes to your daily routine."

Emma Kessie, the manager of the leisure centre in Exmouth, said about about 100 people stayed in the makeshift accommodation on Wednesday night and about 20 people on Thursday.

"The people who were sleeping here or just sitting here for the day have been incredible and had such enthusiasm and positivity," she said.

"We stayed up having teas and coffees, I was doing microwavable meals at three in the morning... it was just great, it was a great vibe."

In Plymouth, a military convoy picked up the device at Millbay at about 23:00 on Thursday, transported it to King Point Marina and then out to sea where it was destroyed in a controlled explosion.

At 02:50 the council said the cordon was being lifted and those who had been evacuated could return home.

Plymouth City Council said: "We know that being asked to leave your home at short notice – especially at night – is far from ideal.

"Thank you to everyone who was impacted for your patience, co-operation and understanding throughout this challenging operation."

East Devon District Council thanked residents for their co-operation and its partner organisations for working tirelessly to keep residents housed, safe and well.

Ellen Sims, a resident of the Millbay area, said she had been told there was not going to be an evacuation so she went to bed but then emergency services knocked on her door at midnight.

She said: "The council staff were absolutely amazing because they got pulled out of their beds as well."

Resident Chantale Belanger said: "I was still watching TV, my husband was already in bed, and all of a sudden I heard a really loud knock on the door.

"There were emergency services asking us to evacuate because they were ready to transport the bomb to the docks and to bring it at sea to detonate it."

She said evacuation was voluntary but it was going to be moved close to her home and "you never know" what could happen.

"We decided, with our dog, to just leave the area for a few hours," she said.

Matthew Bisco, head teacher at Millbay Academy, said protocols were "brilliantly enacted by staff and families".

Millbay Academy was closed on Wednesday after the bomb was discovered and would reopen on Monday.

Bisco said: "Overnight of course the device has been disposed of in the sea and detonated safely which means our community is now free to reoccupy the space and get things back to normal."

He added: "A couple of years ago we actually designed protocol based on early scans of the local site so we were prepared with a plan for this eventuality.

"Of course with these things they normally remain on paper but we were able to roll that out."

Ian Creasy, a resident of the area, said he gave evacuation some thought but ended up staying at home.

He said: "They [the police] were dishing out pamphlets, recommending and given the instruction and information about evacuation, but they did leave us at the end to make our own judgement."

He said it looked like a "big bomb" and if it happened again he would give evacuation some serious thought.

"The worrying thing at the end of the day is this is likely to happen again," he said.

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