Army specialists continue work overnight on World War Two bomb in Great Yarmouth

Army specialists have been working through the night to make an unexploded World War Two bomb found in Great Yarmouth safe.

The metre long device, which weighs a quarter of a tonne, was dredged up from the River Yare on Tuesday by contractors working on the Third River Crossing.

Work started around 5 o'clock last night to drill slowly into the bomb.

It was expected to take all night and run into this morning.

What comes next?

Once bomb specialists have safely cut into the bomb, they will carry out a controlled explosion and, if that is successful, the remainder of the device will be moved out to sea for another controlled explosion.

A 400-metre cordon remains in place at the scene. The cordon has been split into two zones and now includes a 200 metre inner cordon where people are prohibited from entering.

Anyone living in the outer cordon (200-400 metres) has been strongly advised to evacuate.

A no-fly zone has also been put in place in the immediate vicinity of the device until this evening.

Superintendent Nathan Clark of Norfolk Police said: “This is a very delicate, complicated, and dynamic situation and we do not underestimate the impact this is having on people’s lives.

“This operation is now moving into the next phase. The police together will our partner agencies and the bomb disposal experts continue to work together to try to get this resolved as safely and as quickly as possible.”

Evacuation centres

Rest centres remain open at St George’s Theatre in King Street or the Mesh, Shrublands Youth and Adult Centre, Magdalen Way, Gorleston.

Road closures

Road closures are in place 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.

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