Hundreds of homes evacuated after unexploded bomb found

Hundreds of homes had to be evacuated in Great Yarmouth on England’s east coast after an unexploded bomb was found.

The believed-to-be military device was found in the River Yare by a construction site worker earlier today, Norfolk County Council said.

The council said: ‘The site team found what they believed to be an unexploded device this morning while excavating in the vicinity of bollard quay.

‘They immediately evacuated the area and called the emergency services. Site workers made the discovery while excavating in the area of Bollard Quay.’

More than 100 homes in the resort town, known for its winding sandy beach, are currently being evacuated as officers knock on doors to ask residents to leave.

The Explosion Ordnance Device team from Colchester, Essex, are investigating.

A spokesman for the team told the Mirror: ‘We currently have a bomb disposal team deployed and are on assist providing their specialist skills and expertise to assist the police in dealing with this matter.’

Dredging work was taking place at Bollard Quay by the junction with Boundary Road when the device was found, Norfolk Police said.

The force said officers were called at 11:36am by the contractor at the development site of the third river crossing.

Police have placed a 400-metre cordon along Southtown Road, while the coastguard closed off Southgates Road and Newcastle Road across the river.

A number of roads have been closed off with buses diverted.

‘People in homes and businesses inside the cordon are being advised to leave their properties,’ the force added.

The third river crossing, which has cost £121 million, is set to be completed at the end of the year.

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