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
Image source, PA MediaThere has been "no impact" on policing in Plymouth or "anywhere else in the force", Devon & Cornwall police have confirmed.
The force has been manning the area alongside other emergency services since Tuesday.
Officers have also been assisting residents back to their homes to collect essential items.
It confirmed it also had officers from other areas of the force in Plymouth to help.
Teams from Devon and Somerset Fire Service have been among 999 crews helping man the cordon in Keyham following a World War Two bomb's discovery.
In a Facebook post, external, Totnes Fire Station said it was among the crews called out at 14:30 GMT on Tuesday to the "major incident" in Plymouth.
They have been helping at the cordon alongside colleagues from Buckfastleigh Fire Station.
The post said: "At around 14:30 on Tuesday, 20 February, we were mobilised in the ICU to a major incident in Plymouth alongside Buckfastleigh Fire Station, external after a World War 2 bomb was discovered.
"The ICU is our mobile logistical command point used for keeping logs on all events and decisions made for legal purposes and we are regularly hosting multi agency JESIP meetings.
"These meetings take place so that all agencies are aware of the tactical priorities and risks of each agency to build the safest overall picture of how to move forward at an incident.
"We have been shift changing with Buckfastleigh Fire Station, external to ensure that there is consistent command and support whilst the incident is ongoing."
While a lot of attention has been placed on bombs in Plymouth from World War Two, historians have said Cornwall was also heavily bombed during the conflict.
Helen Bishop-Stephens from Bodmin Keep, Cornwall's war museum, said the county had "many strategic sites" which were targeted by the Germans.
She told BBC Radio Cornwall: "Well of course Plymouth came off far worse because of Devonport dockyard but of course Cornwall then had its own bombs too.
"We had our fair share as it were of bombs during the course of the war, particularly from the early days of the war.
"We had many strategically important sites down here of course.
"Falmouth had a ship repair yard and a refuelling stop at Swanvale and there was a small naval dockyard at Mylor and ships were often taking refuge up the river so with that and across the county various sites meant that we were of course a target."
Image source, Getty ImagesCharlotte Cox
BBC South West
The head teacher of a school whose pupils live near the cordon said some of the children have not come in recently because they are worried about the bomb.
Carina Francis, head of College Road Primary School, said the school has been doing all it can to support the children while the World War Two bomb is dealt with.
“Some children have not come in at all because they are too anxious," Ms Francis said.
“We are okay with that – every parent knows their child best.”
Ms Francis added: “We’ve really encouraged them to come in and have tried to keep it very much business as usual so their routine is kept.
“But I’m also aware of making sure parents feel comfortable their children are safe and happy.
“We are letting them know what we’ve put in place and have a counsellor here and have organised extra sessions.
“I am spending lunch times with the children."
The community of Plymouth is rallying to help those affected by the unexploded bomb found in Keyham.
The Market Hall on Duke Street , externalin Devonport has offered free co-working on Friday for anyone affected by the critical incidents.
Military and emergency services remain in the area as they head into the fourth day of dealing with the unexploded WW2 bomb.
An update from the council is expected at 11:00 GMT.
Image source, PA MediaA military vehicle has arrived at the scene near St Michael Avenue
Image source, PA MediaPolice continue to man the cordons and support those displaced
Image source, PA MediaThe drone unit from the force are also in the area
Image source, PA MediaAs are the Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue service
One business in the Keyham area affected by the cordon said it had become a drop-off for people's parcels.
JC Motorcycles has been on Warleigh Avenue since 2007 and sits just outside the cordon.
Owners John and Catherine said they were happy to help.
"We're happy to take anybody's parcels - if people have got stuff they're expecting they can divert it to us, no problem and come and collect it when they're back home," Catherine said.
She added they had also experienced dozens of cancellations and no-shows due to customers no longer being in the area.
"It's strange times," she said.
Georgina Barnes
BBC News, South West
Image source, FPS Images/Matt GilleyDefence officials confirmed the bomb at the centre of the Keyham cordon is a 500kg (1,102lb) German bomb from World War Two.
It is a type of air-dropped bomb designated SC-500, which was the same type of weapon found on the seabed in Guernsey last year.
The one found in Guernsey was detonated at sea and registered a magnitude 2.7 earthquake detected 6km (3.7 miles) north of the island's capital St Peter Port.
Image source, PA MediaCurrently, it is only advice for people living within the cordon to leave their homes.
Some residents remain within the cordon, police said on Thursday.
Plymouth City Council's Deputy Leader Jemima Laing said it was a "very small number of people" compared to those who had left.
"There are definitely conversations going on with all those people still to ask them to understand why we are asking them to take this very drastic step," she said.
"I do understand, and of course we can't force people, but conversations are ongoing to really get people to understand why it would be the safest thing for them and their families."
Historians and archivists in Plymouth believe they have worked out when the unexploded World War Two bomb found in St Michael Avenue, Keyham, was dropped on the city.
The Box has digital versions of Plymouth's "bomb book" and maps detailing where all the 1,362 German bombs which were dropped and exploded in the city during 59 raids between 1940 and 1944 landed.
Using these, staff at the museum believe they have worked out when the bomb in Keyham had been dropped.
Image source, The Box/BBCStacey Anderson, media archivist at The Box, said the maps show a bombing run in the area of the cordon from 22 and 23 April, 1941, known to be one of the heaviest nights of bombing in the city.
The maps shows a couple of gaps along the route of where the bombs landed, including around the St Michael Avenue area.
She told BBC Spotlight: "This night was when that particular bomb fell."
Hattie McCann
BBC Radio Devon, Keyham
Police tape crosses many of the streets here and the houses look empty while work to make the unexploded device safe enters a fourth day.
There are police officers here and we know the military are busy behind the scenes.
Many people have spent another night away from this community - but last night would have been the first for hundreds more who are now affected after the cordon was extended.
Some people have been staying in hotels and many more with friends and family.
When speaking to those affected, they said they were scared, worried about their homes and upset about having to leave.
The council said 340 people had been along to the Life Centre so far, where they are providing essential items including things like blankets, towels, toothbrushes and toothpaste.
Plymouth City Council said it knows residents are keen to know what is happening and when, but it isn't in a position to confirm any of the detail.
On its website, external it said it would provide further updates on Friday.
"The police and door knocking team continue to visit any remaining residents within the cordon."
Resident Matt Wake, who lives about 200m (656ft) from the undetonated bomb, said it would be nice to have some sort of timeframe on what is happening
"It's getting to the end of the week, we'd all like to go home to our own houses after work today... it doesn't look very likely tonight," he told BBC Radio Devon.
"Some sort of timeframe would be nice, sounds impossible though."
Mr Wake said it was a "sit and wait" situation.
"There's over 3,000 of us, it's odd because we're all in the same situation... but we're all completely displaced."
The council is supporting those who need accommodation financially, Plymouth City Council's Deputy Leader Jemima Laing has said.
She said: "As far as hotels go, if people go to the Life Centre, and tell the team that they need accommodation, then that is something that the council will arrange and pay for.
"We don't want people to be out of pocket in terms of accommodation at all."
Lt Col Rob Swan, from the EOD and Search Regiment, said the poor weather has had some impact on the operation to make the World War Two bomb found in Keyham safe.
"The weather's been very challenging both to the assessment and some of the ground works to prep mitigation," he said.
"In terms of some of the mitigation we would like to do, the weather will affect where we can and can't place mitigation."
However, he added conditions do not need to be dry for the operation.
Lt Col Swan said: "Ultimately, when it comes down to it, the weather won't impact that part of the operation."
An update from the bomb disposal team is expected at 11:00 GMT, a councillor has said.
Plymouth City Council's Deputy Leader Jemima Laing said, "like everybody", she was also "waiting for the next update".
She said: "This is obviously an incredibly complex and delicate operation, and it's for the bomb disposal experts to advise on what they think is the best way to deal with it.
"I know it's frustrating that we don't immediately know what's happening, but we have to let them do their work so they can advise on the very safest way to dispose of this because resident safety has to be the top priority."
Ms Laing said the response of those displaced had been "calm and measured".
She said: "It is chaos but I think actually I really want to say thank you to everyone dealing with this incredible upheaval in a really calm way.
"All I can ask is that people bear with us."
Hattie McCann
BBC Radio Devon
As well as support for those displaced, a rapid relief team has been supporting members of the emergency services.
Stan Wallis said welfare support for both the emergency services and the bomb disposal team was "very important".
He said: "We're all about community compassion and support... often the officers are stood on a police cordon for hours on end, it's very cold here today and has been for the last day or so.
"To be able to come back somewhere and get hot food, hot drinks, we feel it's really important for them."
Charlotte Cox
BBC South West
There are no schools within the exclusion zone but Plymouth City Council said it was working with four schools around the outside of the cordon.
Kerry Bidewell, from Charity Promoting Children in Plymouth, said: “In all the schools in the affected area we are seeing children impacted.
“Schools have swung into action quickly and put additional support in place because school is absolutely the place they need to be.
“It’s safe, it’s their trusted space, as always the schools support their communities quickly when they need to.”
Supt Phil Williams, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "On the whole, people have been really understanding and we've obviously tried to give them suitable advice.
"Really the key message is public safety.
"It is not a decision anyone would take lightly, asking people to leave their homes... a number of people have refused to leave and it is their right to do so, but we continue to try and engage with them to try and encourage them to leave."
Lt Col Rob Swan, from the EOD and Search Regiment, told BBC Spotlight the military will do all they can to make sure properties are not damaged badly if the World War Two bomb is detonated in Keyham.
He said: "What we're trying to do is make it as safe as possible in line with the mitigation that we've got to therefore reduce the impact to properties."
But he added the risk to life caused by the bomb being present is of greater importance to the emergency services.
"Protection of properties is really high in my list of priorities, but risk of life will always comes first," Lt Col Swan said.
Image source, PA Media