Evacuations as bomb teams deal with two incidents

Homes have been evacuated in two parts of Devon as bomb disposal teams deal with the separate discoveries of unexploded devices.

Plymouth City Council said a small number of residents on Millbay Road were "strongly advised to leave their homes for their own safety" after bomb disposal experts confirmed a 50kg German WWII bomb was found at a building site. A 400m (1,312ft) cordon was in place.

In a separate incident in Exmouth, a 400m cordon was set up at Exmouth Marina after a "suspected unexploded ordnance" was dredged from the water, with properties also evacuated.

The Royal Navy's Devonport-based bomb disposal team was assisting in Plymouth and a unit from the Midlands was in Exmouth.

A police spokesperson said a number of roads had been closed in Plymouth and people were being asked to avoid the area while attempts were made to identify the ordnance and make it safe.

In Plymouth and Exmouth, 100m cordons were in place but both were widened to 400m.

In Plymouth, a lorry was seen carrying sandbags to the site.

Plymouth City Council said "a small number of residential properties along Millbay Road, that are considered to be in direct line of sight of the device have been advised to evacuate.

"Although evacuation is not mandatory, residents in the affected properties are strongly advised to leave their homes for their own safety.

"Those residents are encouraged to make arrangements to stay with friends or family overnight while the device is made safe."

An evacuation assembly point has been set up at Plymouth Cathedral, said the council.

The Moxy Hotel, which adjoins the site, had also been evacuated, adding vehicles parked within the cordon could not be accessed or removed until the cordon was lifted.

Millbay Academy, which has more than 500 pupils, thanked "students, families, staff and the wider community for your cooperation and support today" as the school was evacuated.

The school said on Facebook it would remain closed on Thursday.

Devon and Cornwall Police said teams were also at Exmouth Marina "after a suspected unexploded ordnance was dredged out of the water".

Exmouth Sports Centre had been opened "for anyone being displaced who needs somewhere to go", it said.

A bomb disposal team from the Midlands has been deployed to Exmouth, according to Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, and they arrived in the seaside Devon town at about 19:25 GMT.

East Devon District Council said military bomb disposal experts were on site assessing the device to identify the safest method of disposal.

The local authority urged people to avoid the marina area until further notice.

Councillor Paul Arnott, leader of the council, said: "We understand this is an unsettling situation for local residents, and we thank everyone for their patience and cooperation."

He said between 40 to 60 people were at the town's sports centre and more were expected as door-knocking continued.

Dan Blackett and his family live on the seafront in Exmouth and planned to stay with relatives overnight.

"For a few hours we weren't sure whether the police cordon was going to get extended, and then I went out and saw a police officer... and he said it's go time, so now we're packing up to leave," he said.

"The police did say that nothing was going to happen tonight with the device.

"I'm assuming they've got a plan of action for tomorrow in daylight, to remove out our do something with it I guess."

Firefighters, police and council workers were at the scene managing the cordon as people were being escorted out of their houses.

Exmouth resident John Cameron, who was staying in a hotel for the night, said police had been knocking on doors within the cordon, advising people to evacuate their properties.

Before the evacuation, he said he could see the dredger in the marina, with a large object about 3-4ft in length and 2ft in diameter onboard the vessel.

Devon and Cornwall Police said LED Exmouth Leisure Centre, on Imperial Road, was available for anyone being displaced who needed somewhere to go.

Eleanor Bradburn, one of the residents evacuated in Exmouth, said she had just a few minutes to grab some personal belongings before she needed to leave.

Ashley Rosier, another Exmouth resident, said he and his family were on their way to dinner at a restaurant when they came across police who told them they had to leave the area.

"[It's] fairly shocking that they found a bomb, literally right behind the restaurant where we were going," he said.

"Let's hope it doesn't cause any other issues."

In Plymouth, parents and guardians of pupils from Millbay Academy were asked to pick up the children at St Mary and St Boniface Cathedral.

David Salvage, who was collecting his grandchild, said: "Everyone has been calm, there's been no difficulty at all.

"We normally go for a coffee and an ice cream, but we'll have to miss that today."

Luke Pollard, Labour MP for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport, joined police calls for drivers to avoid the area.

The council's parking enforcement team had temporarily suspended parking enforcement in areas around Millbay "where residents may be impacted by the road closures", he said.

"This is an ongoing issue and I am in touch with the council and the police," he said.

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].