Dozens of unexploded Second World War bombs discovered at playpark

Workers constructing a playpark in Northumberland have uncovered close to 200 unexploded Second World War bombs.

It’s thought the area in Wooler was used as a Home Guard training ground and the munitions, which still contain a charge, were buried there at the end of the war.

Councillor Mark Mather from Northumberland County Council, who also sits on Wooler Parish Council, told Sky News’ Sarah-Jane Mee about the discovery on The UK Tonight.

He said they got a call on 14 January from the contractors saying “they thought they’d discovered a bomb”.

“We had to put a 50-metre cordon around the site,” he said.

“The army bomb disposal team came out to the first one on the first day, and then the second bomb, the next day.”

After that, they were told they would need to hire a private contractor – who found 65 bombs on their first day of work and another 90 the next.

“We’re up to 176 of these [bombs], between nine and 11 and a half pound training devices.”

He said as they still carry a charge they have to be treated as “potentially hazardous” live devices.

Work is continuing to make the site safe and the council plans to complete the playpark.

“We’re going to make sure that once the team leave that we have a certificate to say that park’s 100% safe,” Mr Mather said.

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The cost of hiring contractors to remove the devices is not cheap and brought extra concerns for the parish council, which Mr Mather sits on.

He said that the project to safely remove the munitions is estimated between £30,000 and 40,000, and Northumberland County Council have stepped in to fund the work.

And Mr Mather warned there is the potential for more finds of Second World War bombs and artefacts.

“We just don’t know,” he said, adding there was concern “different types of explosives or… World War Two memorabilia” could be found as the works continued.

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