23 February 2024 , 11:55
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The threat of a huge Second World War bomb exploding more than 80 years after it was dropped on Plymouth by the Luftwaffe is over after its safe removal from from a residential street.
Thousands of people were ordered to evacuate their homes as the 500kg explosive was transported through the city after its discovery on Tuesday in the Keyham area. A huge 300-metre cordon was put in place as around 1,219 properties and 3,250 people were told to get out of their homes. The convoy carrying the bomb slowly made its way out of the area this afternoon.
At around 6pm Plymouth City Council now confirmed the cordon was starting to be removed and people can return to their homes. In an update, the authority wrote: "Residents of Keyham and surrounding areas – thank you so much for your patience. We have been notified by the military the operation has been a success and the bomb has been removed from the area.
The moment the Second World War bomb was placed on to a boat in Plymouth (Daniel Dayment / SWNS)“Therefore, we can now start removing the cordon so people who have been evacuated can return to their homes. However, it will take some time for all the roads closures to be removed, so please bear with the staff on the ground.
“Please be aware we anticipate a lot of traffic heading back to the area, so we would ask you not to rush and try to stagger your journey. Trains are now live and buses will recommence shortly.”
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This map shows where the convoy needs to go (Plymouth Live/BPM Media)Earlier they added: “Highly trained bomb disposal experts will carefully remove the device from the property and it will be transported by road in a military convoy, west along Parkside and Royal Navy Avenue, joining at the junction on Saltash Road to continue south joining Albert Road, turning right along Park Avenue and heading down Ferry Road to the Torpoint Ferry terminal."
Police earlier warned there will be some disruption to travel as the main train line runs through the cordon. All trains between Plymouth and Gunnislake and Liskeard have been cancelled as a result. National Rail confirmed the convoy needs the railway to be shut off between 2pm and 6pm.
Residents were urged to leave their roads to ensure their safety (PA)
Locals recieved an emergency alert from the council (PA)Sally Haden, cabinet member for community safety, thanked residents for their patience and earlier said: "It has been absolutely massive. The best thing is we are keeping people safe. We need to listen to our experts. The assistant chief executive of Plymouth City Council said the device could have had a "devastating impact" on the properties.
He praised the police and the "fantastic" staff at the council. He said there are "well over 1,000 staff and officers" who have been assisting with the incident. Officers and partners have been working around the clock to find the safest solution for dealing with this device," he said. "This is one of the larger operations. We have used every minute that we can to get everything right for our citizens."
Officers and council staff are working 'around the clock' to support the evacuation (PA)Archivists believe they have figured out the date the bomb was dropped on the city. According to 'bomb maps' from the war, staff at The Box museum believe the device was dropped on April 22 or April 23, 1941. Stacey Anderson, media archivist at The Box, said: "This night was when that particular bomb fell."
The resident, who alerted officers to the bomb, has been identified as a dad. He said he found the device in his garden whilst he was digging with a spade on his daughter's property. He previously told Plymouth Live: "We've been digging out for the foundations for an extension. Every time we reached what we thought was hard ground the rain would come and we'd find we had to keep digging down.
The convoy will dump the bomb at sea (PA)"I hit something with a spade but we weren't sure what it was at first. Since then we've had so much rain, the bank collapsed, then there was more rain on Friday and it's been revealed more and more. It's about one metre long and half a metre in diameter. We've found a cap and a round circle thread sheared off or broke off. I took photos and sent them off and a sergeant in Exeter rang me five minutes saying he needed to send them off to EOD. Five minutes later there's a knock on the door and police officers asking to have a look. The next minute they're suggesting a cordon with a 200m radius."
Sally Haydon said the convoy will dispose the bomb at sea (SWNS)
Locals have been spotted temporarily moving out of their homes (PA)Schools and nurseries are to expected to close to allow the operation to take place, while all businesses within the cordon have been told to evacuate. Sarah Rowe, headteacher at Keyham Barton Catholic Primary School, said: "It's something that could have been so scary and negative but I have been so proud of how everyone has come together. The whole school family has come together to make sure everyone is safe – spirits are high."
The council added: “Once the operation is complete, the Police will begin to reopen the roads. Everyone must avoid the area during this period. We are very grateful for the patience of residents at this difficult time and all agencies are doing everything they can to minimise any ongoing disruption. We will aim to keep residents informed throughout the operation.”
A cordon was set up on Tuesday (PA)Residents recalled how they were left frantic after their roads were closed half an hour earlier than they expected. One resident said he received an email to say the road would be closed at 2pm, but soon realised the alert had been updated. "I am absolutely fuming. My family is stuck in there and there's two people here saying I'm not allowed in," he told SkyNews.
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A former bomb disposal expert stressed the urgency of the alert and said that moving the device is the most terrifying part. "It might have had a shovel whacked on the top of it, but actually moving it is the most dangerous part," Andy Abbott said.