Thousands are forced to evacuate their homes

MORE than 1,200 properties have been evacuated leaving more than 3,200 people displaced following the discovery of an unexploded bomb in the heart of residential Plymouth.

Many of those evacuated sought cover from the rain at Plymouth's Life Centre yesterday, where all normal activities have been halted amid its conversion to an emergency refuge.

Bomb disposal experts were yesterday "still assessing the device to determine the best possible approach" But Plymouth City Council saidthere were no plans to further extend the 309m (1,013ft) cordon. 

Extending the cordon to 309m around St Michael Avenue is a sign bomb disposal teams are considering detonating the device where it is, said Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) experts working for construction services business Igne.

The firm's EOD specialist said military and police teams operating in Keyham will have one eye on what happened when a World War Two bomb exploded in Great Yarmouth a year ago. Army specialists were attempting to disarm the device, at a construction site next to the River Yare, when it unexpectedly went off, causing a huge explosion which shook buildings 15 miles away.

They said that if it has to be blown up where it sits, it will cause a huge concern for residents in neighbouring properties which could be damaged.

The Igne specialists said that when a World War Two bomb was detonated by the military in Exeter in 2021, the University of Exeter lost a claim against its insurers when buildings were damaged.