Great Yarmouth bomb: Defusing process heads into Friday

The 250kg bomb was dredged up on the River Yare on Tuesday, sparking evacuations and road closures.

This afternoon a bomb disposal robot was put in place by the army to cut into the device as part of the first stage of the defusing process. A police cordon in place (Image: Denise Bradley)

Before that 400 tonnes of sand had been put in place around the bomb to try and absorb an explosion.

It is estimated that the whole defusing process could take between six and 12 hours, not including breaks.

After the device is made safe it could then be taken to army land to be defused, although it may be taken out to the North Sea to be disposed of safely.

The head of Great Yarmouth Police Supt Nathan Clark, said that the first stage of the cutting process to take away the fuse and trigger mechanism was hoped to start at 5.30pm.

Supt Nathan Clark gives a press briefing (Image: Denise Bradley)

The bomb was found by Bollard Quay in the Southtown area of Great Yarmouth.

Today started in dramatic fashion as police said the defusing process may have to be delayed due to safety reasons because of the proximity of two gas main lines.

Supt Clark said that if the bomb had gone off then it would have been "catastrophic".

Defence scientists were called in to help analyse the problem, and it was finally decided the defusing process could go ahead as originally planned.

Supt Clark said: “It could take anywhere between six and 12 hours I’m told. And there will be waiting periods.

“It’s all about making the device as stable as possible.

“When they’ve separated the main device I imagine there will be a controlled detonation on site.

Police at one of the cordons (Image: Denise Bradley)

"There was talk of it being taken out to sea. Now that is subject to an environmental impact assessment.

"If it is deemed that would be too detrimental to the environment, then it might get taken to a military range for destruction."

Hundreds of people have been told to leave their homes in an exclusion zone and two evacuation centres have been set up for people to stay in - St George's Theatre in Great Yarmouth and Mesh Shrublands Youth and Adult Centre on Magdalen Way, Gorleston.

Supt Clark said the evacuated areas won’t be safe until the device has been moved.

He said: “Thanks to the public who have been ever so patient.

Supt Nathan Clark briefs the media (Image: Newsquest)

“230 residents have been asked to leave and this has been unsettling for them.”

As well as a 400m exclusion zone with a strict 200m evacuation area, a no-fly zone has been put in place over the area.

Norfolk Constabulary's Assistant Chief Constable Nick Davison, who is the chair of the Strategic Co-ordinating Group set up through Norfolk’s Local Resilience Forum, also thanked residents for their support and patience.

He said: "On behalf of all the agencies working together to bring about a safe resolution, I would like to repeat my thanks to the public in Great Yarmouth for their understanding and resilience.

"We know this is disrupting people’s lives and all agencies are working very hard to resolve this as soon as we can but with safety and preservation of life at the heart of what we’re doing.”

Police advice people about the road closures. Behind is the construction site the bomb is at (Image: Denise Bradley)

An emergency helpline for people who require assistance with evacuation from the exclusion zone is also still available.

This helpline is 01493 330369 and should not be used for general advice.

The cordon in front of the construction site where the bomb is situated (Image: Denise Bradley)

Southtown Road is closed from its junction with Tollgate Road all the way to Beccles Road.

Lichfield 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.