More than 160 unexploded practice bombs from World War II have been discovered beneath a children’s playground in northern England, officials confirmed.
The discovery was made earlier this month in Wooler, a town about 45 miles north of Newcastle, England, during a routine survey of the area. The Wooler Parish Council initiated the inspection after a single unexploded ordnance was found on January 14 during expansion work on the playground.
The survey, which began on January 23 and was initially planned to last just two days, quickly revealed a much larger problem than officials had anticipated.
“On the very first day alone, a total of 65 unexploded practice bombs, each weighing approximately 10 pounds, were found within an area of less than one square mile,” Wooler officials stated. Smoke cartridges were also recovered from the site.
Although these were practice bombs, authorities emphasized that they still contained explosive charges and required professional removal to ensure the safety of the playground.
Despite stormy weather, the search continued into a second day, during which the excavation area was expanded to two square miles. By the end of the operation, an additional 90 unexploded bombs had been uncovered, bringing the total to more than 160.
All recovered ordnances were immediately secured and removed to a safe location for disposal.
Due to the scale of the discovery, the planned expansion of the playground has been temporarily suspended until the site is fully cleared of any remaining explosives. However, officials anticipate that work will resume later this spring.
A spokesperson for Northumberland County Council acknowledged the unexpected nature of the discovery but reassured residents that additional resources had been allocated to ensure the area’s safety.
“The County Council has been pleased to support the town and the local community in progressing this new facility, which will be a great asset for both residents and visitors as part of the town’s regeneration efforts,” the spokesperson said. “Clearly, this find was unexpected, but we are pleased to have been able to secure the extra funding needed to carry out this crucial work safely.”
Authorities are continuing to monitor the site to prevent any further risks as they work toward making the area safe for public use.
