Get out NOW! Plymouth homeowners given ONE HOUR to evacuate as unexploded WWII bomb found in garden - 300 metre exclusion zone set for sea detonation

Homeowners in Plymouth have been given an hour to evacuate after an explosive device from the Second World War was discovered.

Any resident living within 300 metres of the route will need to evacuate their home between the hours of 2.00pm and 5.00pm this afternoon.

The evacuation order affects 1,219 properties and an estimated 3,250 people.

The 500kg bomb will be carried through Royal Navy Ave, Saltash Rd, Albert Rd, Park Ave and Ferry Rd. All roads along the route will be closed until the device is safely removed.

It will take approximately 20 minutes to pass through the city to the sea, Superintendent Phil Williams of Devon and Cornwall Police said.

The Ministry of Defence has called the transportation of the unexploded bomb one of the largest peacetime evacuation operations in the UK since the Second World War.

The bomb was found in a garden on St Michael Avenue, Keyham on Tuesday, police said.

Plymouth City Council said bomb disposal experts from the Army and Royal Navy had been assessing the device to determine how best to deal with it.

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A spokeswoman said: “It is a very complex situation, and a number of factors need to be considered by the members of the resilience forum, alongside the overriding objective of people’s safety, including damage to property and impact on underground utilities.

“Following more information about the device and after considering all options, including a controlled detonation on site, partners have agreed that the safest and least impactful option is to remove the device from St Michael Avenue and travel to the Torpoint Ferry slipway – for the bomb to be disposed of at sea (beyond the breakwater).”

The authorities added: "Highly trained bomb disposal experts will carefully remove the device from the property and it will be transported by road in a military convoy, west along Parkside and Royal Navy Avenue, joining at the junction on Saltash Road to continue south joining Albert Road, turning right along Park Avenue and heading down Ferry Road to the Torpoint Ferry terminal."

Residents in the affected area were sent severe alert to their mobile phones, telling them to stay clear until 5.00pm.

Councillor Sally Haydon said: "It’s been absolutely massive, but the best thing is we are keeping people safe and we are listening to the experts.

"As much as residents are very anxious, they are also very comfortable."

Devon and Cornwall Police has urged people not to call 101 about the military convoy as the bomb is transported.

Public transport will be disrupted during the three-hour period. All trains between Plymouth and Gunnislake and Liskeard - both villages in east Cornwall - have been cancelled.

National Rail said the convoy requires the railway to be closed between 2.00pm and 6.00pm.

Ferries have also been suspended, and buses are on diversion, with disruption expected to last until at least 8.00pm.

During the operation, schools and nurseries will close whilst businesses have also been told to evacuate.

For those who have nowhere to go, the rest centre at the Life Centre remains open.

The council added: “Once the operation is complete, the Police will begin to reopen the roads. Everyone must avoid the area during this period.

“We are very grateful for the patience of residents at this difficult time and all agencies are doing everything they can to minimise any ongoing disruption. We will aim to keep residents informed throughout the operation.”

Inspector Paul Laity, the neighbourhood inspector for Devonport and the west of the city, said some had chosen to remain in their homes and that officers were not yet forcing them to evacuate.

He said: “There are a number of people who want to remain in their homes and we completely understand and sympathise with them.

“There are various reasons why they don’t want to leave – it could be care needs etc – and we do our best to map that out so we know where they are, and to accommodate any support services that they need along with our partners.”