Plymouth: Thousands evacuated in Plymouth as army to move WW2 ...

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Thousands of people have been evacuated in Plymouth while soldiers move an unexploded World War Two bomb through the city in a 20-minute convoy before it is detonated at sea.

A major incident was declared on Wednesday and hundreds of residents were told to leave their properties after an unexploded bomb was found in St Michael Avenue by a man helping build an extension at his daughter’s home.

The Ministry of Defence said the evacuation is one of the largest in the country since the war.

Plymouth Council has now ordered around 3,000 people to evacuate ahead of soldiers transporting the unexploded 500kg bomb through the city in a military convoy on Friday, before it is detonated in the sea near Torpoint Ferry slipway.

Residents have been sent a “severe” government alert to their phones, warning them to stay away from the route of the disposal convoy between 2pm and 5pm.

A government alert also sounded in the background of a police briefing on the operation.

Superintendent Phil Williams told reporters: “As it stands we haven’t forced anyone from their homes we can only urge them to and offer them the best advice.

“There is obviously an element of risk that has been assessed by the army which has deemed [this strategy] the lowest risk.”

According to the Ministry of Defence, the ordanance found buried in the back garden is an SC500 transverse fuzed airdrop weapon.

Ian Regan told Sky News he received a Government alert on his phone urging him to leave his home which was 10m away from the convoy route. He said: “It was scary. We put the cats in the boxes and got to my father’s spare bedroom. It is very stressful. The greatest fear is that it could go off anytime.”

He added that residents were let back in to homes to move furniture and valuables out before the bomb was moved.

The Luftwaffe Resource Centre describes the SC 500 as a “general demolition bomb” 80 inches in length in total, weighing in at 500kg with 220kg filling. The filling is described as “40/60 or 50/50 Amatol TNT, trialene.”

Residents affected by the cordon, with a local mechanic from Wayne’s Mobile Mechanic Ltd telling Sky News “It’s been a very scary moment for myself, my wife and three children.

“[The reaction’s] unbelievable and very scary as we live yards from the scene.”

A Plymouth council spokesman said: “In order for this to happen, we need support from residents in the area along the route.

“Anyone who lives within 300 metres of the route will need to leave their homes TODAY for about three hours. You will need to leave your home by 2pm and we anticipate you will be able to return by 5pm.

“The rest centre at the Life Centre remains open to support people who do not have anywhere to go.”

He added: “In addition, the main train line will be closed, ferries (including the Torpoint Ferry) will be suspended and buses will be diverted.

“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.”

The man who discovered the bomb told Plymouth Live he was helping prepare the groundwork in the back garden of his daughter’s property for an extension when he found it.

One resident added: “We’ve been told to leave our homes - all the residents in St Aubyn Avenue. Police are out knocking on doors telling people there’s been a bomb found. They’ve closed off the lane behind our road. Apparently it’s an old Second World War bomb.”

Plymouth City Council’s leader Tudor Evans said everyone involved in the response to the World War Two bomb’s discovery in Keyham has been “extraordinary”.

He posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the incident has brought out the “best” in Plymouth.

Mr Evans said: “Extraordinary work by our @plymouthcc staff throughout the night, supporting residents and planning for today. Public service at its very best.

“They’re invested. They feel it. They are friends and neighbours too.”