Homes evacuated after gardeners dig up unexploded World War II bomb

By Adam Dutton and Matt Taylor via SWNS

A pair of landscape gardeners were left shell-shocked after digging up an unexploded World War II BOMB as they worked on a back garden.

Residents were evacuated from their homes while police and bomb squads rushed to the scene following the discovery by Paul Probert and James Dobson.

The pair had been working on a garden at a residential home on Stephenson Road, Barbourne, Worcester, when they unearthed the device with a digger yesterday (Thurs).

Paul said he thought he had found a Coca-Cola bottle at first until they saw the shape and James did a Google image search to reveal it was a WW2 bomb.

West Mercia Police erected a 100m cordon and told people to leave their homes while a specialist Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team examined the device.

The EOD team was on the street for over three hours before they transported the device away from the area to carry out a controlled explosion.

Dad-of-two Paul, 34, of Droitwich, Worcs., said: "It was myself that dug it up with the digger.

"I thought it was a Coke bottle to start with due to the shape. It wasn’t until I saw the tip that we realized it was a bomb.

“James Google lensed it and it said it was a World War Two bomb. We didn’t touch it and stayed well clear of it.

"They think it was French and fired from a cannon. We were trying to work it out, it could’ve been during training.

“It wasn’t your average day. It’s the most unusual thing I’ve found.

"We’ve found water pipes and electricity lines, but never a bomb.”

A West Mercia Police spokesperson had earlier warned: "Officers are currently on Stephenson Road in Worcester following the discovery of a suspected unexploded ordnance.

"A 100m cordon is in place and the area has been evacuated while we wait for experts from Explosive Ordnance Disposal."

Officers lifted the cordon along the residential street shortly after 2pm after the discovery was made at around 9am.

Detective Chief Inspector James Bamber said: "We’d like to reassure the public that the area has now been made safe by Explosive Ordnance Disposal, who have removed the item and will carry out a controlled explosion in a safe location.

"The discovery was made by a landscaper who was carrying out work in the property's rear garden.

"We believe the ordnance was an unexploded World War II bomb.

"The 100m cordon put in place has now been lifted and there is no threat to the public.

"Those who were evacuated are now able to return their homes and the area has been reopened."