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
Alex Green
BBC News
Lt Col Rob Swan, commanding officer of the 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal & Search Regiment, said experts were still working to understand the make-up of the bomb.
He said: "I can confirm it's a German air-drop munition from World War Two, and we've been assessing it throughout the day to understand exactly the make-up of the device..."
Alex Green
BBC News
Image source, Plymouth City CouncilPlymouth City Council has released a map showing the area affected by the exclusion zone, which is set to widen to 309m (1,014ft) from 09:00 on Thursday.
It has also released a list of the roads affected by the cordon.
These are: Alexandra Road, Alexandra Terrace, Alfred Place, Alfred Road, Barton Avenue, Beatrice Avenue, Bedford Street, Berkshire Drive, Brunel Avenue, Brunel Terrace, Cambridge Road, Clyde Street, Cotehele Avenue, Epworth Terrace, Henderson Place, Kempe Close, Kent Road, Maristow Avenue, Moor View, North Down Crescent, North Down Gardens, Ocean Street, Parkside, Railway Cottages, Renown Street, Royal Navy Avenue, Sanctuary Close, St. Aubyn Avenue, St. Michael Avenue, Station Road, Sussex Road, Sussex Terrace, Townshend Avenue, Warleigh Avenue, York Terrace.
The local authority said in some cases, only part of the street would be inside the cordon.
Teams from Plymouth City Council and partner agencies will be in the area to knock on the doors of the properties affected by the extended cordon from 08:00 on Thursday.
People are being encouraged to make arrangements to stay with friends and family over the next couple of days.
The Life Centre will be open to accommodate people as well.
Alex Green
BBC News
Ch Supt Matt Longman said those who are going to be affected by the widening of the cordon on Thursday will be notified.
He said people should "prepare as early as they can" to leave the area - and if they were not sure if they were affected by the expansion of the cordon, the police force would make sure the relevant information was available on the Plymouth City Council website., external
Police have confirmed people being forced to leave their homes from 09:00 on Thursday will need to be prepared to be out for 36 hours.
Ch Supt Matt Longman said: "Tomorrow, we will need to extend the cordon to 300 metres.
"What that means is that sadly, more people are going to be affected, and we do sympathise with that.
"Our staff are trained to answer any questions on the cordon.
"From 9'oclock tomorrow morning, we need people to leave that area and be prepared to do so for 36 hours."
Devon and Cornwall Police said those who have already been evacuated will be allowed to go home and collect any essentials overnight until 09:00 on Thursday.
Ch Supt Matt Longman has thanked the public for their patience.
Alex Green
BBC News
The cordon around the unexploded World War Two bomb in Plymouth is set to be expanded from 09:00 GMT on Thursday, police have said.
The exclusion zone will widen from 200m (656ft) to 300m (984ft).
Alex Green
BBC News
Since the bomb was found in a back garden in St Michael Avenue in Keyham on Tuesday, hundreds of homes have been evacuated.
Alex Green
BBC South West
Plymouth City Council said it needed to wait for a full assessment, by the people working to make the device safe, before it was able to tell people more.
The council said: "We understand that this is a worrying time for everyone and want to provide accurate information as soon as have it."
Councillor Sally Haydon, who is cabinet member for community safety, libraries, cemeteries and crematoria said the council could only give out information the military and police allowed it to give.
Councillor Sally Hayden said her number one priority was keeping people safe
She said: "What I would say to people is that if you're in that area, like last night, please come to the Beacon.
"We can sort out accommodation, we can sort out hot food, keep you nice and warm, or if there's anything else - you might have had to flee home quite quickly... we can try and sort that out for you."
Charlotte Cox
BBC South West
On Tuesday night, 32 families who had been told to leave their homes were accommodated in hotel rooms paid for by Plymouth City Council, the local authority said.
The Beacon Centre is currently the only council venue offering food, drink and support to those displaced by the incident.
The council said the centre would be open tonight until 22:00 GMT.
It said those who spent Tuesday night in hotel rooms would be informed later about arrangements for Wednesday night.
The council said nobody would be expected to sleep at the Beacon Centre.
Image source, Plymouth City CouncilThe Beacon Centre will be open until 22:00 GMT on Wednesday, the council said
Alex Green
BBC News
For anyone who feels they need support with their mental health, there are a number of services being offered, Plymouth City Council said.
It said: "If you are currently struggling with your mental health and feel like you are in a crisis, call Livewell’s First Response service via NHS 111 (selecting the mental health option) for advice, support and signposting from one of our mental health professionals.
"If you find you are struggling to cope, feeling low, anxious or overwhelmed by your thoughts or feelings (but not in a current crisis, in which case call 111 mental health option) then call NHS Talking Therapies Plymouth on 01752 435419."
It said lines were open Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:00 GMT.
Staff from Livewell Southwest are at the Beacon Centre in Plymouth to offer support and guidance to residents who have been forced to leave their homes.
Joanna Collins, a community nursing sister, said: "We are here at the centre providing advice and directing people to the right places for medication and urgent prescriptions.
"We've spoken to older, frail, vulnerable and pregnant people who are obviously confused about the situation and the uncertainty and wanting to know what's going on but we don't actually know - all we can do is offer support and wait for the processes."
Alex Green
BBC South West
Plymouth City Council issued an update at 16:00 GMT with answers to some frequently-asked questions.
The local authority said it did not know whether the cordon - which is currently 200m (656ft) - would have to be expanded to include more homes.
It said: "We don't know yet - our colleagues from the military are working on plans to make the device safe and we are awaiting their decision.
"Safety must be a priority. We will update as soon as we can."
The council also said If the cordon was to be extended, it would publish an accurate map and a list of the roads impacted.
Charlotte Cox
BBC South West
One resident said he had nowhere else to go so decided to sleep at home on Tuesday night despite advice to leave.
Ray Baker, 66, who lives close to where the device was found, said: "The policeman said I couldn't go back to my house last night because I would be entering the blast zone but I had nowhere else to go so I went back and slept at home."
Police and the council have urged residents within a 200m (656ft) cordon of a property on St Michael Avenue, Keyham, where a suspected unexploded World Was Two bomb was found, to leave their homes.
Mr Baker added: "A policeman saw me and my wife in the garden with the dog this morning and said 'what are you still doing here?' The police said we were 100m away from the device."
Mr Baker said he went to the Beacon Centre rest centre on Wednesday and Plymouth City Council has said it would find the couple somewhere to stay tonight.
Plymouth City Council has said it will not extend the cordon around a suspected World War Two explosive device on Wednesday.
A spokesperson for the council said it would not be asking more residents to leave their homes this evening.
They said if or when bomb disposal experts said the cordon needed to be expanded they hoped "to be able to give residents at least 12 hours’ notice and carry out the evacuation in daylight".
The spokesperson added: "However, residents who were evacuated last night, will not be able to return to their homes today.
"If you do not have somewhere to stay, please go and speak to the staff at the Beacon Centre."
The council said the Beacon Centre would be open until 22:00 GMT and nobody would be expected to sleep there.
Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online
Image source, GooglePlymouth City Council said it was considering a number of options for locations that could be used as rest centres if needed.
The evacuation centre for people displaced from their homes near the site of a suspected World War Two bomb in Keyham is currently the Beacon Centre on North Prospect Road but others could be opened, inclduing at the Plymouth Life Centre.
A spokesperson for the council said: "To ensure the centre is available for use as an evacuation centre if required, customers are being notified that it will not be open from Thursday 22 February."
The council said it was "assessing all the measures needed to make the unexploded wartime device in St Michael Avenue, Keyham, safe, including the potential need for further residents to temporarily leave their homes".
Charlotte Cox
BBC South West
Antonio de Sousa said he had never experienced anything like it before
Keyham resident Antonio de Sousa has described how he heard police telling people to leave their homes on Tuesday.
Mr de Sousa. 44, and his three children and mother are among hundreds evacuated from Keyham after a suspected World War Two bomb was found in St Michael Avenue.
Speaking friom the Beacon Centre in North Prospect, he said: "All we could see was police on the street telling people to leave our home, I've never had an experience like this before."
The family, who were put up in a hotel last night, have been told they were staying in a hotel again tonight.
"At the moment we are okay but we weren't expecting to be in a hotel again," he said.
"When you are with a family it doesn't feel stable but I hope things change very soon and we'll be home soon."
Brian Agus hopes the council can provide him and his wife with accommodation for Wednesday evening
A couple in their 70s slept on the floor on Tuesday night after they were unable to return home.
Brian Agus, 74, lives about 150ft (46m) from the site, and said police told them to leave their home originally for two to three hours.
“We left, and now as you know we found out it could be two or three days – I’m just coming up here to find out what type of accommodation the council is going to provide for us,” he said.
Mr Agus and his wife, 70, said they had slept on the floor of someone’s home.
“It’s not been a good time… I just want the same as everybody else, get it all over with and get back home," he said.
Charlotte Cox
BBC South West
A cordon is in place around the area where the bomb was found in St Michael Avenue, Keyham
Police dealing with the suspected World War Two bomb in Plymouth have said they are "aware" of bringing back memories to residents of a mass shooting in the area.
A cordon is in place around the area where the bomb was found in St Michael Avenue, Keyham.
In August 2021 Jake Davison, 22, used a legally-held shotgun to kill his mother and four others before shooting himself in Keyham.
Neighbourhood Inspector Paul Laity said: "This incident will certainly trigger some memories for residents, seeing again the blue police tape going up, cordons going on."
Neighbourhood Inspector Paul Laity: "We are very aware of how this impacts on the community"
He said: "The shooting happened in 2021, obviously there was a massive emergency response and recovery phase to that incident.
"Trauma doesn't go away, it doesn't disappear after 2021 so we are very aware of how this impacts on the community and the ongoing effects."
Kevin Hay
BBC Spotlight
Oliver Lucas said his house was opposite the home with the bomb in the garden, and that he was "stressed and anxious" about the whole situation.
His partner rang him on Tuesday morning to say the police were advising they left their home.
He said: "Obviously I've got things sorted out there, she's needing to sort things out for our little one as she's disabled.
"We've come for some advice as we need to find somewhere to stay and things."
He said they were told they could be out of their home for three or four days.
"We've just being going off what's been on the news so far," he said.