WW2 bomb being taken out to seapublished at 20:15 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February
We are ending our live coverage now as the unexploded bomb is taken out to sea.
You will be able to find further updates on the story on the Devon index on BBC News.
Summary
An unexploded WW2 bomb that was found in a garden in Plymouth has been safely transferred to the sea, Devon and Cornwall Police say
The device was moved by military convoy from the Keyham area of the city to the Torpoint Ferry slipway, from where it has been taken to sea for detonation
A 300m cordon set up around the disposal route has been lifted and thousands of people who were evacuated have been told they can return to their homes
More than 10,300 people and some 4,300 properties fell within the area that was cordoned off by police
The Ministry of Defence has described it as one of the largest UK peacetime evacuations since WW2
Police were called on Tuesday to the discovery of the bomb in a garden in St Michael Avenue
The area was heavily bombed during the war in an attempt to damage nearby naval facilities
WW2 bomb being taken out to seapublished at 20:15 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February
Unexploded bomb in Plymouth: What we knowpublished at 20:01 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February
The disposal of a World War II bomb found in a back garden in Plymouth earlier this week marks the end of four days of disruption for thousands of people living in the city.
- A 500kg (1,102lb) German World War Two bomb has been transported through Plymouth and taken out to sea for disposal.
- The unexploded device was found in a garden on St Michael Avenue on Tuesday.
- Experts removed the device from the property on Friday and transported it about 1.4 miles (2.3km) in a military convoy to the Torpoint Ferry slipway.
- The bomb has now been taken by boat beyond the breakwater to be detonated.
- Plymouth City Council said 10,320 people and 4,300 properties fell within a cordon implemented on Friday while the bomb was transported to the sea.
- The cordon was lifted shortly after 17:30 GMT.
Stellar performance of community resilience - council leaderpublished at 19:55 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February
George Thorpe
BBC South WestTudor Evans, leader of Plymouth City Council, said locals also needed to be praised for what they have done this week in making sure the operation was a success.
He paid special thanks to residents of Keyham, Ford and Devonport, who have been the most effected by the incident.
The council leader added he was "so proud" of the city.
“I would also to recognise all the other organisations who have demonstrated a stellar performance of community resilience and what it truly means to be a public servant," Mr Evans said.
"Hundreds of council officers joined the small army of organisations that worked hand in hand to support the people of Keyham and keep our city safe.
“And finally – of course I would like to thank the people of Keyham, Ford and Devonport.
"It has been a rollercoaster of emotion the last few days, and I would like to praise the community for helping the emergency team in evacuating and supporting our effort to protect their home.
“It is a day I will never forget. I am so proud of Plymouth.”
Pub landlord opened early to help evacuated localspublished at 19:40 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February
George Thorpe
BBC South WestNick O'Riley, who runs Stoke Bar, welcomed in people earlier than usual after locals were evacuated from their homes.
He said: "I've opened early, they can come in for free tea or coffee, somewhere warm to sit if they've got nowhere else to go.
"It's nice to help."
Support is still available, says councilpublished at 19:32 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February
Alex Green
BBC NewsPlymouth City Council more than 570 people visited the Life Centre on Friday.,
The authority said it was still open to provide help and support for local people as they prepare to return home and said it would only close when the last person had left.
The council also said water had been restored to the area which was in the cordon.
On Saturday, the council said, the rest centre would move to the Beacon, in North Prospect, and the Life Centre would reopen to members and customers.
The Beacon will be open from 08:00 to 20:00 GMT on Saturday and Sunday - with staff from Plymouth Community Homes, the council and Livewell Southwest offering advice and information, mental health support and help accessing food.
Very relieved to be home - residentpublished at 19:21 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February
Brodie Owen
BBC South WestA Keyham resident said she was “very relieved” to be home after spending the past four days in a caravan in Cornwall.
Vicky Brotherton, who lives on Cotehele Avenue, said it had been “a very anxious time for us”.
“Very relieved to be home - the same as everyone else I think on the avenues,” she said.
“Just a massive thank you to everyone who has been involved to end this safely - really impressed with His Majesty’s forces.”
'Fantastic collaboration' throughout operationpublished at 19:12 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February
Alex Green
BBC NewsSupt Phil Williams said this has been a "huge operation".
"I think the collaboration's been fantastic hasn't it, and we've just seen what people can do when they work together," he said.
"So we've had volunteers that have come in to help us, partners with the local authority, obviously military and other emergency services, it's been fantastic to see - and the right outcome."
'Last few days will go down in history'published at 19:05 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February
George Thorpe
BBC South WestPlymouth City Council leader Tudor Evans has thanked everyone involved in the removal of a World War Two bomb.
He said it had brought out a "war-like spirit" in the city.
"I think it is fair to say that the last few days will go down in history for Plymouth," Mr Evans said.
"This war-time bomb has really brought out war-time spirit, people coming together to really support each other and whilst it has been really tough – we got through it!
"I would like to thank the bomb experts for their bravery, putting their lives on the line to remove the WWII bomb from the garden in Keyham, carefully loading it onto a lorry, driving it slowly to the slipway so it could be loaded onto a boat, taking it out to sea so it could be safely detonated.
"As a naval city, this is a first-class example of why our armed forces are the best in the world."
Bomb will be detonated, military confirmpublished at 18:56 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February
Alex Green
BBC NewsLt Col Rob Swan, who has been leading the bomb disposal team working to make it safe, has told the BBC the World War II bomb will be lowered into the sea to about 14 metres down before it is detonated.
He said it would happen "hopefully at some point this evening, or indeed tomorrow depending on the weather conditions".
Mr Swan said it probably "wouldn't be as Hollywood as some people would like to imagine", but people may see "a splash" on the surface, depending on the conditions out at sea.
Emergency alert was UK's first non-test messagepublished at 18:48 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February
George Thorpe
BBC South WestIt has been confirmed by the Cabinet Office that the emergency alert sent at about 12:00 GMT on Friday was the first to be sent in the UK which was not a test.
A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: "An emergency alert has been issued locally to warn residents in Plymouth of the risks around an unexploded World War Two bomb.
“As with all major incidents that may present a risk to life, the Cabinet Office will work with local emergency services and issue alerts where essential information can help keep the public safe."
The alert system was set up by the government to help warn people when there is "danger to life nearby".
Image source, PA Media'Extraordinary few days in Plymouth'published at 18:40 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February
Jenny Kumah
BBC South West England CorrespondentIt's been an extraordinary few days here in Plymouth.
First of all, about 3,000 people had to leave their homes in the community where the device was first found on Tuesday.
Then this afternoon, people were given two hours' notice that this device was being transported through the streets of Plymouth to a slipway to be detonated at sea.
They were told they needed to leave their homes to be out of harm's way.
Police officer praises bravery of militarypublished at 18:27 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February
George Thorpe
BBC South WestCh Supt Ian Drummond-Smith from Devon and Cornwall Police has thanked members of the army and navy personnel for getting the bomb moved out to sea.
The officer said on social media: "Amazing bravery by @BritishArmy, external@RoyalNavy, external and escorting officers from @DC_Police, external."
Image source, PA MediaLocals travel to coast to watch bomb go out to seapublished at 18:21 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February
George Thorpe
BBC South WestA man says he has gone to Devil's Point in Plymouth to try to watch the bomb being taken out to sea and detonated.
Adam told BBC Radio Devon he and a couple of friends had gone to the location to watch the operation unfold.
Adam said: "Since we came a couple of hours ago, it's gone quite dark, so it is much, much harder to see."
'I couldn't be prouder', says Plymouth deputy leaderpublished at 18:15 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February
In a statement, Plymouth's deputy leader Jemima Laing has said she "couldn't be prouder... of this fantastic city" in light of this latest operation.
She praised the "extraordinary response of the council, the police, the military, our partners and volunteers".
"The forbearance of our residents has been quite something and the compassionate, empathetic response of our council teams has been incredible," she added.
"This is not about patting ourselves on the back, it's about acknowledging the incredible agility of local government and how our wonderful officers respond in times of crisis."
Police and military boats now in Plymouth Soundpublished at 18:09 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February
Andrea Ormsby
BBC South WestA police boat and military ribs have been spotted in Plymouth Sound.
People are gathered along the waterfront on The Hoe to see if they are able to see the bomb being taken out to sea.
Roads and train lines reopenpublished at 18:07 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February
National Rail has confirmed on X, external, formerly known as Twitter, the train line in Plymouth has reopened after the bomb was moved into the water.
Pictures from Melville Road also show traffic moving along the road again after the cordon was lifted.
Bomb transport operation 'a success' - militarypublished at 18:04 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February
Alex Green
BBC NewsPlymouth City Council has been told by the military the operation to transport the bomb from St Michael Avenue to the water has been "a success".
In an update on its website, Plymouth City Council said: "Residents of Keyham and surrounding areas – thank you so much for your patience.
"We have been notified by the military that operation has been a success and the bomb has been removed from the area.
"Therefore, we can now start removing the cordon so people who have been evacuated can return to their homes."
The council said despite this, it would take "some time" for all the roads closures to be removed.
Sense of relief as residents go homepublished at 18:01 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February
Brodie Owen
BBC South WestThere is a huge sense of relief here in Keyham as residents return home.
Initially there was some confusion with police officers waiting to be given the go-ahead to lift the cordon, but eventually residents were able to pass freely.
Bomb has gone to sea - police chiefpublished at 17:57 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February
Ch Supt Ian Drummond-Smith, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said on X, formerly Twitter, said: "The bomb has gone to sea!
"Thank you to everyone for your patience and good spirits."
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End of twitter postCommunity has been 'sticking together'published at 17:54 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February
George Thorpe
BBC South WestResident Carol Kendall said this week has been "quite concerning" and opened up old scars from the Keyham shootings in 2021.
However, she told BBC Radio Devon locals had come together to support each other.
Ms Kendall said: "The community has come together and is sticking together and helping each other out, but it is very scary for all of us around.
"I think this here is again bringing up people's emotions and the trauma and the fear."
