Royal Navy bomb squad called out to Appledore twice in two days

Appledore residents had to be evacuated yesterday (Wednesday, June 11) after an eight-inch shell was found near the shipyard – and a second piece of suspected ordnance has been discovered today, with the Royal Navy bomb squad enroute.

Police attended yesterday following the discovery at Bidna Yard at 10am yesterday and the Royal Navy Bomb disposal team from Devonport in Plymouth were called out.

Now they have confirmed they were called today (Thursday), just after 12noon to Hubbastone Road to another piece of ‘suspected ordnance’. It is not clear if this is the same location as yesterday.

Police said a 100-metre cordon is in place while waiting for the Royal Navy team to arrive from Plymouth.

On Wednesday, the ordnance was found to be an old eight-inch naval shell and the Devonport team carried out a controlled explosion on Westward Ho! beach at around 4.50pm after removing it from the yard.

Above: The old eight-inch naval shell found in Appledore placed at Westward Ho! beach before a controlled explosion was carried out by the Royal Navy bomb disposal team. Credit: Royal Navy

A cordon was put in place and police said a small number of residents living near Bidna Yard had to be evacuated

People on the beach and in the sea yesterday were asked to evacuate the area while the explosion was carried out.

Social media posts from some residents today suggest they have been asked to evacuate again after the second piece of ordnance was discovered.

A spokesperson for the Royal Navy said: “The Royal Navy’s Bomb Disposal team from HMNB Devonport would like to thank the conscientious observations by the public in reporting this to Devon and Cornwall Police, who in turn alerted the team.

“We are extremely grateful for any information the public provide and ask that they don’t deal with a suspicious object themselves.”

A police statement regarding yesterday’s incident said: “We were called shortly after 10.10am on Wednesday, June 11 following a report of a suspected ordnance being found at Bidna Yard in Appledore.

“A cordon was put in place and a small number of residents evacuated.

“The Royal Navy Bomb Squad attended and transported the device to another location for a controlled explosion to be carried out.

“With the support of Devon and Cornwall Police and other agencies the device was safely detonated at a nearby beach and the area reopened.”

This story will be updated when we have further information.