We're taking a look back at the week Great Yarmouth nearly blew up
As we approach the end of 2023 we're looking back on one of the biggest stories of the year for Yarmouth
On the 10th February 2023, a relic of World War Two came back to haunt the Norfolk town of Great Yarmouth, when a 250 kilogram bomb exploded unexpectedly.
Its discovery, at the site of the third river crossing development caused days of disruption, with nearby residents forced to evacuate, and local businesses shutting their doors.
As we head towards the end of 2023, we're taking a look back at how it all unfolded.
Discovery of the bomb
Homes and businesses in part of Great Yarmouth were evacuated on 7th February, after a suspected unexploded bomb was discovered in the River Yare.
Officers were called to the junction of Southtown Road and Boundary Road, after the device was uncovered during dredging work near Bollard Quay, which was being carried out by a contractor working on the third river crossing.
A 400m cordon was put in place, along with a number of road closures.
Residents living within the cordon were evacuated, and spent days living in evacuation centres at St George’s Theatre in King Street and the Mesh, Shrublands Youth and Adult Centre, Magdalen Way, Gorleston.
Disarming the bomb
The plan, which required hours of delicate work, was for specialists to cut into the bomb, then carry out a controlled explosion.
Following that, the remainder of the device was to be moved out to sea for another controlled explosion.
However, things didn't go to plan...
Work was paused due to safety concerns, with Norfolk Police explaining the device was in a hazardous location with two main gas pipes - a low pressure pipe and a medium pressure supply running along Southtown Road.
A team of scientific experts from the Defence Science and Technical Laboratory – which advises the British Army on blast science - were then consulted to decide next steps.
Eventually, it was agreed work could continue, as, according to Norfolk Police "the risk of pipes being ruptured, should there be a full detonation was been deemed high unlikely."
Experts ran into a second delay when it was deemed a sand barrier built around the bomb to minimise any damage from an explosion was not structurally sound.
Once the sandbank was reinforced, experts began using a different, tried and tested approach to bring the incident to a safe conclusion.
The army specialists used a technique that created a slow burn of the explosives to burn off that material.
Whilst the process does carry a risk of an unintended detonation, it was assessed by experts as the best course of action.
Not long after this though, the bomb, which had been hidden for at least 84 years, exploded unexpectedly.
People reported hearing the bang, and feeling buildings shake up to 15 miles away.
It was not planned detonation, and police tell us it happened during slow burn work to disarm the explosives.
The aftermath of the explosion
No one was injured, and damage was limited.
A spokesperson for Cadent, which manages the local gas mains network, said: "Our team has carried out a close inspection of our pipes in the vicinity. There is no indication that the blast has caused damage to our assets and gas continues to flow safely."
The cordon was lifted shortly after the explosion to allow people to go home - but it seems fair to say no one will ever forget the week Great Yarmouth blew up.