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Portsmouth cross-Channel ferries stopped as WW2 bomb found WW2 bomb prompts evacuations in parts of Portsmouth
(35 minutes later)
Cross-Channel ferries to and from Portsmouth had to be suspended earlier following the discovery of a World War Two German bomb. Homes and a shopping and leisure centre in Portsmouth have been evacuated after a World War Two German bomb was found.
The device was found at about 05:00 GMT by a dredging barge on the seabed in Portsmouth Harbour. Trains between Portsmouth and Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour are suspended, and ferry services have been affected.
An 500m exclusion zone was set up, which prevented the ferries from entering and leaving the ferry port. The device, discovered by a dredging barge on the seabed in Portsmouth Harbour at about 05:00 GMT, is due to be towed to a detonation site.
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard remains shut to visitors for the rest of the day. Cross-channel ferries to and from Portsmouth were suspended earlier when a 500m exclusion zone was set up.
Ahead of the operation to move the bomb, police evacuated both the shopping and residential areas of Gunwharf Quays.
Passengers were asked to leave the Wight Link terminal, Old Portsmouth, Portsmouth Harbour station, Gosport ferry station and the Hot Walls areas.
'Priority is safety'
Hampshire Constabulary said those affected would be taken to Portsmouth Cathedral or one of two rest centres in John Pound Centre, in Queen Street.
The force said: "We understand that this will cause disruption for some time however our priority is the safety of everyone in the area."
It is not yet known how long the evacuation, which took place at 12:00 GMT, will last.
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard was also closed and will remain shut for the rest of the day.
A Royal Navy spokesman said the bomb had now been "safely moved further into the harbour" which mean the port could temporarily reopen.A Royal Navy spokesman said the bomb had now been "safely moved further into the harbour" which mean the port could temporarily reopen.
He added: "The plan is to tow the device out of the harbour later today when tidal conditions permit."He added: "The plan is to tow the device out of the harbour later today when tidal conditions permit."
Brittany Ferries earlier had three ships waiting to come into Portsmouth - one from Spain and two from France. Its Normandie ferry, which had arrived from Caen, had to be held for almost five hours. Brittany Ferries earlier had three ships waiting to come into Portsmouth - one from Spain and two from France.
Its Normandie ferry, which had arrived from Caen, had to be held for almost five hours.
It said 950 passengers had been on board the three ships.It said 950 passengers had been on board the three ships.
David Minton, a passenger stranded on the Normandie, said at the time: "It's getting rather boring, we've had to sit here just twiddling our thumbs, but there's nothing we can do." David Minton, a Normandie passenger, said at the time: "It's getting rather boring, we've had to sit here just twiddling our thumbs, but there's nothing we can do."
Nigel Wonnacott of Brittany Ferries said: "We'd like to apologise to all our passengers, it's an unexpected and irritating delay which is outside out control - we just have to extend our apologies and ask our passengers to remain patient." Nigel Wonnacott, of Brittany Ferries, said: "We'd like to apologise to all our passengers, it's an unexpected and irritating delay which is outside our control - we just have to extend our apologies and ask our passengers to remain patient."
Third device found
Condor Ferries' Commodore Clipper, which serves the Channel Islands and had 94 passengers onboard, was also held outside the harbour for several hours.Condor Ferries' Commodore Clipper, which serves the Channel Islands and had 94 passengers onboard, was also held outside the harbour for several hours.
Dredging work The exclusion zone around the device meant some Naval base employees have had to be moved to other buildings at the dockyard.
The exclusion zone around the device has meant some Naval base employees have had to be moved to other buildings at the dockyard. It is the third device to be found in the harbour during dredging works, since September.
It is the third device to be found in the harbour during dredging works since September.
Dredging work is being carried out in the harbour to to deepen and widen a four-mile (7km) channel to allow the the navy's new 65,000-tonne aircraft carriers to dock.Dredging work is being carried out in the harbour to to deepen and widen a four-mile (7km) channel to allow the the navy's new 65,000-tonne aircraft carriers to dock.
The HMS Queen Elizabeth is due to be handed over to the MoD in 2016 ahead of being put into service in 2020.The HMS Queen Elizabeth is due to be handed over to the MoD in 2016 ahead of being put into service in 2020.