Local coastguards play a role in Exeter bomb detonation

Beer Coastguards played a role in responding to a major incident in Exeter yesterday (Saturday) in which a World War Two bomb was detonated.

The voluntary coastguards were first called to the incident along with teams from Exmouth, Teignmouth, Torbay, Prawl, Yealm and Tamar at 8pm on Friday evening to assist police after the unexplored bomb was discovered near Exeter University.

In the early hours of Saturday morning, the original team members were stood down and more coastguards from all across Devon, including five more from Beer, were tasked to the multi-agency response with a briefing at 6am.

Each agency was split into four teams and assigned to a search commander who was in charge of a particular area within the 400 metre cordon, ensuring all properties were empty within their designated area.

More than 2,500 homes were evacuated by 10am, which allowed the bomb disposal teams to detonate the device, which measured eight feet long and 27 inches wide.

With the area clear, coastguard teams were stood down at 11.45am and a controlled explosion of the bomb eventually took place at 6pm yesterday evening, with about 400 tonnes of sand/ballast used to cover the bomb.

Beer Coastguards were called to return to the scene at 7.52pm to help police keep the 400metre cordon in place.

They were asked to man major road junctions and keep everyone out of the area until 6am this morning (Sunday).