200 unexploded WWII bombs found underneath playground
Almost 200 unexploded bombs dating back to World War II have been unearthed from beneath a children's playground in the north of England.
The discovery was made in Scotts Play Park in Wooler, Northumberland, with 176 bombs recovered and fears that more could be discovered.
The first of the devices, which still contain a charge, were found in January and was followed by much larger finds in the following weeks.
It is believed the area was used as a Home Guard training ground during the war, and the explosives were buried at the end of Second World War in 1945.
After two bombs were recovered by the British Army, the local parish council was then advised that a full survey of the area was required.
“I never thought as a parish councillor I’d be dealing with bomb disposal,” Conservative councillor Mark Mather said, as reported by the BBC.
“It’s quite something to think the children have been playing on bombs and it’s been a really challenging situation.
“We’ve only cleared about a third of all the park and we could still find another pit with more bombs in.”
The bombs were first discovered in January after the parish council received a grant to build a fully inclusive playground to be added to the existing area.
While digging foundations at the site on January 14th, the first bomb was found, with another 150 explosives being found in the following two days.
Experts from the local Barracks confirmed the first device was a training bomb and the UK’s Ministry of Defence said a full site survey was needed.
“They are called practice bombs so they’re not live,” Mather said.
“But they do still carry a charge and were found with the fuse and contents intact so they could be hazardous."
“The story we’re getting from locals is that Wooler was a centre for Home Guard training and officers came here from all over the country. After the war it looked like they just buried all the ordnance in one of the pits.”
Image credits: Wooler Parish Council