Bomb disposal experts from the Royal Navy and British Army detonated the Second World War device discovered on a building site in The Avenue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OdflojpBP4

The 500lb air-dropped-bomb was found by builders during excavation work on the site before Army Royal Engineers were called to the scene.

Roads and schools were closed and homes evacuated over the next day and a half as the device was made safe and eventually removed to the MOD Shoeburyness Range near Southend, in Essex, over the weekend.

Petty Officer Craig Waghorn, who was part of the four-man-team overseeing the operation, said: “The Army’s Royal Engineers did a great job carrying out the dangerous job of fuse immunisation and were very happy to see us after their long day and night making the bomb safe for transportation.

“It was good to work with the Army on this joint disposal operation and we’ll be glad to get back to base after a busy week on our duty call-out.”