Yarmouth bomb: Lessons learned six months after blast

The 250kg bomb exploded during slow burn disarming work shortly before 5pm on February 10.

A plume of dark-grey smoke ejected from the bomb three storeys high while a boom echoed across the borough. It signalled the end of a 77-hour ordeal for many residents, road users and emergency services.

The moment the bomb exploded in Great Yarmouth on February 10. Picture - Screenshot of video shared on Facebook of Luke Stone

No one was injured as a result of the explosion.

Following the explosion, Norfolk County Council launched an investigation to assess why the unexploded bomb had not been identified earlier during the construction of the Herring Bridge.

In June, it was declared no one was at fault.

The bomb shortly after it was discovered on Bollard Quay in February. Picture - Submitted (Image: Submitted)

However, the Broads Authority said lessons have been learned from the "near-miss".

A Broads Authority spokesperson said: "We operate a ‘continuous improvement’ process whereby safety breaches, near-misses and incidents such as this within the construction sector are assessed.

"Any learning is incorporated into our best practice and guidance going forwards."

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

The unexploded device was discovered just after 11.30am on February 7, during dredging work in the River Yare near the construction site of the third river crossing on Southtown Road.

A major incident was declared by police shortly after the device was found.

Within two hours, the bomb squad was called to investigate, and cordons were installed around parts of Southtown and South Quay. 

One of the police roadblocks at the cordon due to the World War Two bomb being found in Great Yarmouth. Picture - Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)

Over the next three days, a 400m cordon was placed around the potential blast zone. 

Army bomb experts dealing with the unexploded device by the River Yare at Great Yarmouth. Picture - Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)

More than 200 people were evacuated from their homes and temporarily housed in evacuation centres.

An estimated 400 tonnes of sand was used to create a wall around the device in anticipation of the bomb being exploded where it was discovered.

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