Bomb Disposal Team Called To Suspicious Device Found By Fire Station

Published on: 24 Jun, 2013
Updated on: 25 Jun, 2013

Police preparing to close the road – Photo Dani Maimone.

An army bomb disposal team was called to a suspicious device discovered at Guildford fire station, Ladymead today (June 24) at around 12.30pm.

Police directing the traffic for road closure, bomb disposal – Dani Maimone.

Kevin Noble the fire station manager spoken to during the incident said: “We are excavating on site as we are planning to build a new fire station here. It looks like it’s an old World War 2 bomb that could well have been here for 60 years or so.”

Once the station had been evacuated, a 100m cordon was put in place and the road was closed while the army team, from the Royal Logistic Corps, detonated the device. It was believed to be a 2 inch mortar smoke bomb.

Archaeologist ‘Nick’, who did not wish to give his surname, had just made the exciting discovery of some Neolithic flints when he found the device.He said: “I encountered what I at first thought was a green bottle but when I looked more closely I realised it was actually a mortar shell.”

He had been using a machine on the soil and was naturally concerned. He continued: “It’s the first time I’ve come across something like this myself. I could see this fin sticking out. I thought if I am going to find anything like this then I am probably in the best place at a fire station. I just went and spoke to the guys who called the police and got the bomb squad out.”

Mark Eldon, who was driving the dumper at the time added: “We have found something and the fire brigade have evacuated the area. I have been doing this job for 41 years and I have dug up quite a few explosive devices. I dug up a large bomb in Guildford 35 years ago.”

Bomb disposal assessing the situation – Photo Dani Maimone.

A 2 inch Smoke Mortar Bomb believed to be similar to the type found today. The 2 inch mortar was used by the British Army from the Second World War to the 1980s.

See below a video clip from YouTube of a similar bomb found with a metal detector…