Work to disarm WW2 bomb in Great Yarmouth continues with cordon to remain until tomorrow
A major incident has been declared after a metre-long 250kg bomb was unearthed yesterday
Police say a 'delicate' operation to dispose of a World War II-era bomb, which has been uncovered in Great Yarmouth, will likely to continue into tomorrow.
The device, which is a metre long and weight approximately 250kg, was uncovered by workers at Bollard Quay off Southtown Road yesterday morning.
Army specialists are currently building a sandbank around the bomb and will start the process of cutting into its casing at around 5pm.
Local homes and businesses have been evacuated with a 400m cordon in space.
It's thought the process of disarming the bomb will take around 12 hours, with he cordon to remain in place until at least 11am.
Superintendent Nathan Clark, of Norfolk Police, said: “This is a very complicated and developing picture.
"Military specialists are currently working on the device and they’re some way away from dealing with this. The disruption will almost certainly go into tomorrow.
“This is a delicate operation because there’s always the risk that if it doesn’t go to plan, the bomb will detonate.
"This is why the exclusion zones have been put in place and it’s really important people heed that advice.
"If people refuse to leave the 200metre exclusion zone, this will delay the operation because it represents a real risk to people in this area if things don’t go to plan.
“While it’s not uncommon for these types of devices to be found on our coast, this device is larger than the usual finds. It’s about a metre long and weighs 250kg and in its current state is not safe to move.”
Rest centres for people evacuated from their homes remain in place at:
• St Georges Theatre – King Street, Great Yarmouth NR30 2PG
• Mesh – Shrublands Youth and Adult Centre, Magdalen Way, Gorleston, NR31 7BP
The following roads remain closed:
• They are at: Southtown Road – closed from its junction with Tollgate Road all the way to Beccles Road.
• Litchfield Road, off Southtown Road, is partially closed.
• Williams Adam Way, off Southtown Road, is closed.
• Boundary Road, off Southtown Road, is partially closed.
• Tollgate Road, off Southtown Road, is closed.