Evacuation plans over WW2 bomb cut to 300 homes

More than 300 homes are set to be evacuated on Wednesday as experts continue to deal with a suspected unexploded bomb in a town, down from 1,300 homes in an earlier announcement.

A 300m (985ft) exclusion zone is currently in place after the suspected 250lb (115kg) American World War Two device was found in water near Falmouth Docks on Monday.

Cornwall Council said earlier the cordon was "expected to expand" to 1,400m (4,595ft) on Wednesday, with the possible evacuation of up to 1,309 homes, however, that was later revised to 755m (2,480ft), with an estimated 339 homes affected.

Supt Ian Thompson, of Devon and Cornwall Police, urged those within the cordon to leave their homes by 09:00 BST.

Cornwall Council said it had prepared reception centres and would provide support for people who needed help leaving their homes.

The council has provided a link that gives all the postcodes of addresses that could be affected by the evacuation.

Meanwhile rail operator GWR said train services between Falmouth Town and Falmouth Docks would be suspended from 08:45 BST on Wednesday.

Thompson said the size of the cordon was determined by advice from military bomb disposal experts, with the evacuation of the area essential so specialists could proceed safely with the next stage of their works.

He said police would be present in the area to speak directly with affected residents and to ensure they have the necessary support.

"Our priority is public safety and protecting lives and it is important to note that our military colleagues will not be able to safely remove this device until they are reassured that the area has been evacuated."

Devon and Cornwall Police said partner agencies continued "to assess the unexploded ordnance", stressing work was "ongoing to determine the safest and most appropriate course of action".

Lt Cdr Ben Brown, commanding officer of the Royal Navy's Bravo Squadron bomb disposal team, added navy disposal experts were continuing to help police with the unexploded "air-dropped bomb".

He said the team members were among "the most highly skilled and fearless personnel in the Royal Navy" and were "ready to protect the public".

"We find these things around the country all the time. It's what we train for. We do this day in, day out," he said.

Brown said there was "a whole plethora of planning" ongoing at the scene, with various different options on the table, including a possible controlled explosion.

He said "every scenario" was "unique" and the ordnance was on the "larger side" of what the team usually dealt with, but was not as big as the ones discovered in Plymouth earlier in the year.

GWR said no trains or replacement bus services would be able to operate between the two Falmouth stations, however, it said it expected that trains would still be operated between Truro and Falmouth Town.

It added services would resume as soon as the device had been safely removed and the cordon lifted.

Police thanked the public for "continued patience and cooperation" and said emergency teams were working to resolve the situation "as safely and as quickly as possible".

Three residential properties were evacuated on Monday as a precaution.

Householders have been able to return home since but the public has still been urged to stay away from restricted zones.

Falmouth Coastguard's Tom Bolt said a diver had come across the device and alerted the coastguard.

"That basically informed us and we were able to let the MoD [Ministry of Defence] know and essentially they assessed the situation and confirmed it," he said.

Among the impacted residents was Falmouth-based singer Will Keating, who lives nearby.

He said: "I couldn't get to my house because the road was cordoned-off.

"I'm quite intrigued to find out a bit more about the bomb, where it's from and about the history of it.

"I don't think I'm worried about it going off from where I am, but I'm just interested to hear how the story ends."

Nearby resident Sophie Castle said she was "slightly worried" about what might unfold next, adding her flat was "incredibly close to the situation".

She said: "We haven't been told much. But, hopefully, things will be done in the proper way."

Student Maisie Page arrived in Falmouth for university a week ago.

She said it was "very nerve-wracking" to learn there was such a device "just down the road" while starting her first year.

Tilly Ogilvie, who lives in student accommodation in the cordoned-off road, told BBC Radio Cornwall she was turned away from her home on Monday.

She said: "They told me to go as far as I could but they weren't evacuating people."

Another resident Bryony Mirfin said the first she heard about the incident was on social media.

She said: "I've lived here for a long time, so it reminded me of when the acetylene tanks were going off [in a fire] 20 years ago.

"It's not even the first time it's happened."

Beatrice Venner also lives in the student flats within the cordon.

The second-year student said police had told her to "wait it out" as they were "waiting for information from the bomb disposal people".

She said: "The bomb disposal people, it's their job... so hopefully they can dispose of the bomb."

She added: "I'm from Devon, so this sort of thing happens in Plymouth quite a lot", referring to previous incidents there.

Cornwall Council member for Arwenack, Laurie Mcgowan, noted "a large number of people had been affected" but praised authorities for their handling of the situation.

He told BBC Radio Cornwall: "It's not everyday you wake up and understand there's an unexploded device within your ward, and I'm sure that was the case for residents who live close to the issue as well."

Mcgowan said he was "keeping in contact to find out what the next steps are".

He said: "I think the decision around what happens next will be telling in terms of whether they look to take the device away to dispose of it, whether there needs to be any form of controlled explosion within the site."

A military Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team, Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team, Devon and Cornwall Police and Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service have all been in attendance.

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