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Bath WW2 bomb scare: Hundreds of homes evacuated Bath WW2 bomb scare: Hundreds of homes evacuated
(about 9 hours later)
Hundreds of homes are being evacuated after what is thought to be a World War Two bomb was found on the site of a former school in Bath. Hundreds of people have spent the night away from their homes after a suspected unexploded World War Two bomb was discovered at a former school in Bath.
People in the Lansdown area are affected and police said up to 1,000 properties may have to be vacated. Up to 1,000 homes faced evacuation and a 300m exclusion zone is in place following the find at Lansdown Road.
Residents are being moved to Bath Racecourse, and a 300m exclusion zone has been set up at Royal High School. According to reports, a 500lb (228kg) bomb was found just a metre beneath a playground at the Royal High School.
Avon and Somerset Police said the situation would not be resolved quickly. Residents were evacuated to Bath Racecourse and police said they would be unable to return for up to 48 hours.
The force's bomb squad is currently assessing the situation at the school. Get the latest on this story and other news from Bath and Bristol
At the scene: BBC reporter Scott Ellis, Bath Racecourse The device was discovered at about 16:40 BST on Thursday by contractors using a digger at the former school, which had been in use until a few years ago.
It's here at Bath racecourse where people are being evacuated to, if they want it. Some are staying with friends and family. Avon and Somerset Police said the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team had attended the site.
The cordon is near the centre of Bath on the Lansdown Road at the old High School. Some will know it locally as the old Hope House. 'Controlled explosion'
It's there that the bomb squad were called after builders who are developing the site found a 500lb World War Two bomb. "The EOD are currently building a barrier around the device using 250 tonnes of sand," a spokesman said.
I'm told it is a metre down and it is where what was, until a few years ago, a playground. They are currently working on defusing that bomb. "Once this barrier is in place, they will remove the device with a police escort to a safe location away from the Bath area, where they will carry out a controlled explosion."
A spokesman for the force said officers were called to the school at about 16:40 BST. He added that residents "outside the exclusion zone" would be unable to re-enter for up to 48 hours, while those who remained inside the cordon were being prevented from moving within 100m of the device.
He added: "We are working closely with our partner agencies to limit the disruption caused." Bob Lawrence, who stayed overnight at Bath racecourse, said he had been looked after "very well".
Road closures have been put in place and motorists were being advised to find alternative routes. "I was walking back from the pub - up Lansdown Road - and the people in front of us got turned back by the police but we took another route home," he said.
Insp Gavin Usher thanked residents for their patience during the disruption. "At about 9 o'clock we got a knock on the door and the police advised to evacuate. A couple of our neighbours decided to stay there but the rest of us moved out."
"Decisions to evacuate houses are never taken lightly but during these incidents public safety will always be our primary concern," he said. But Glyn, who lives "about 150 yards away from where the said bomb is", decided to remain at home.
"To be fair the bomb's been there for 70 years," he said.
"I've lived long enough with that bomb next to me and if it was going to go off, it would have gone off by now."
'Not be alarmed'
Michelle Carpenter said she had been allowed back into the area briefly by police.
"When I got to my flat at about 8 o'clock, the police said I couldn't have access so I've spent the night with my boyfriend." she said.
"But this morning the police told me I could come in [to my flat] for a few minutes just to get some stuff that I need for the day."
Ch Insp Kevin Thatcher has urged "people not to be alarmed".
"The EOD are working as quickly as they can to remove the device and we will provide regular updates on their progress," he said.
A Bath & North East Somerset Council spokesman said: "Schools close to the cordon may be affected and the advice is to consult the council website, Twitter feed, local radio stations, as well as look out for messages from the schools themselves."
Motorists have been asked to find alternative routes as some roads in the area are closed.