WW2 bomb in Guernsey detonated by Royal Navy divers

An unexploded World War Two bomb has been detonated by a team of Royal Navy scuba divers in the sea off Guernsey.

The device was discovered on Tuesday by recreational divers on a routine dive near the buoyed entrance to the Queen Elizabeth II Marina.

The American-made Mk54 depth charge contained about 100kg (220lb) of explosives.

The controlled explosion took place off the Queen Elizabeth II Pier in St Peter Port at about 12:05 GMT.

The bomb was discovered by recreational divers on Tuesday

The Royal Navy explosive ordnance disposal team arrived in the island on Saturday and assessed the device on Sunday.

Lt Cdr Al Magill, commanding officer of the Royal Navy's Southern Diving Group in Portsmouth, said: "This is the first of that type we have dealt with in a number of years, and although it was overgrown it was still intact."

It is thought the device has been undisturbed on the seabed for more than 75 years.

A 200m (660ft) exclusion zone for marine traffic was in place around the bomb before detonation.

Captain David Barker, Guernsey harbour master, said disposal of such a large bomb like this was a "job for the specialists".

The bomb was detonated where it had been found by divers

Captain Barker explained: "Not only are they highly qualified divers, but they are also explosive ordinance disposal technicians.

"Doing that underwater is even more difficult than doing it on land."

He added the navy specialists had decided to dispose of the device at low tide to prevent the shockwave created by the detonation from hitting the nearby breakwater.

Captain Barker said even 75 years on it is likely there are more explosives in Guernsey's waters that could be uncovered by tides.