Organisations involved in the major incident which was declared when a Second World War bomb was discovered in Great Yarmouth have been thanked at a presentation.

Representatives from the police, local authority and media were invited to the town hall for a meeting of Great Yarmouth Borough Council.

The mayor, councillor Graham Plant, praised those involved in responding to the incident for their professionalism and support.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Mayor Graham Plant and party leaders thank invited guests for their work during the bomb incident at a council meeting at Great Yarmouth Town Hall. Picture: Great Yarmouth Borough Council. Mayor Graham Plant and party leaders thank invited guests for their work during the bomb incident at a council meeting at Great Yarmouth Town Hall. Picture: Great Yarmouth Borough Council. (Image: Great Yarmouth Borough Council)

The unexploded 250kg bomb was found during dredging work close to the site of the new third river crossing.

Experts and the military were immediately called in and a 400m exclusion zone had to be set up around the bomb.

Residents were advised to seek refuge with friends and family while the army worked on making the device safe.

The council set up two rest centres and officers worked with Norfolk Constabulary, Norfolk County Council and other agencies during the incident.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Rosey and Billy Seaman, and their dog Casper, eight; who have been evacuated to St Georges Theatre due to the World War Two bomb being found in Great Yarmouth. Picture: Denise Bradley. Rosey and Billy Seaman, and their dog Casper, eight; who have been evacuated to St Georges Theatre due to the World War Two bomb being found in Great Yarmouth. Picture: Denise Bradley. (Image: Denise Bradley)

Mr Plant said: "The operation to make the bomb safe, all the while maintaining the safety of the public and protecting infrastructure was, to put it mildly, complex.

"The intelligence on the ground was changing – not just day-by-day, but sometimes minute-by-minute."

He thanked Assistant Chief Constable Nick Davison for his leadership, as well as Superintendent Sonia Humphreys and Superintendent Nathan Clark who "also played vital roles". 

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Supt Nathan Clark across the River Yare from where the army bomb experts dealt with the unexploded device at Great Yarmouth. Picture: Denise Bradley. Supt Nathan Clark across the River Yare from where the army bomb experts dealt with the unexploded device at Great Yarmouth. Picture: Denise Bradley. (Image: Denise Bradley)

The mayor thanked the council’s management team and highlighted the work of James Wilson, head of sustainability, and resilience officer Alan Goulder, who ensured displaced residents had all they needed in terms of care and support.

Asst Chief Constable Davison said: "We are very touched and humbled to be invited here. And the bravery of those in close proximity to the device shouldn’t be forgotten."

The mayor also praised the expertise and professionalism of the Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team’s operation to deal with the bomb, which exploded on Friday, February 10 as they tried to defuse it.