Bomb disposal experts have performed a controlled explosion on an unexploded Second World War bomb, which is believed to have targeted Newark during the war.
Yesterday (Wednesday) Steve and Leanda Hillier found the device as they were clearing rubbish from an area of the river on their land, off Mill Lane, Newark.
Nottinghamshire Police were dispatched to the scene and the area was made secure during the night, with police cordons temporarily put in place around the Mill Lane area, while Joint Services Explosive Ordinance Disposal Engineers safely removed the object to a disused field nearby overnight.
This morning, a bomb disposal team performed a controlled explosion on the device just after 8am today.
Leanda said: “It [the bomb] is thought to be from when Ransome & Marles was bombed in the war.”
The ball bearing factory was bombed on Friday, March 7, 1941 when 41 people were killed, and is commonly referred to as Newark’s blackest day.
The controlled explosion on land off Mill Lane, Newark, of an unexploded explosive device. Photo: supplied by Leanda Hillier
Nottinghamshire Police have confirmed that a suspected bomb from the Second World War was safely destroyed in Newark this morning.
Police were called around 4.35pm yesterday, after a suspicious item was spotted in the river, near Mill Lane, Newark.
This was later confirmed to be a small, unexploded ordnance bomb, believed to be from the Second World War era, which was not thought to be live.
Bomb disposal experts subsequently carried out a successful controlled explosion.