Second World War bomb been found in Wallsend shipping yard
Staff were evacuated from the area as a precaution while experts attempted to identify it
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A suspected unexploded Second World War bomb has been found in a shipping yard.
Police were called to the site in Wallsend, Newcastle upon Tyne at 11.30 am after reports it had been found.
The bomb was pulled from the shore and staff were evacuated from the area as a precaution while experts attempted to identify it.
It was found in the River Tyne by dredgers who were clearing the sea bed..
A Northumbria police spokesperson said: "At 11.32am this morning, Tuesday, December 1, police received a report of a possible WW2 monition found at Swan Hunter, Wallsend.
"Staff at the site have been evacuated temporarily as a matter of precaution.
Officers are currently on the scene and this is all the information we have at this time."
The Chonical Live reported that one man, who works as an HGV driver and had been transporting riverbed waste from the site, said he had been at Swan Hunter and had been told to hang fire near the site until the object had been identified.
The driver, who asked not to be named, said: “I’ve been here since 6am this morning with the lorry to take away stuff they bring up off the riverbed.
"They stopped all work immediately and pulled everyone off the river.
“We got told to wait here until they confirm whether or not it’s a World War Two bomb. Obviously, if it’s not, we carry on working and, if it is, we won’t be.
“I haven’t seen the object but one of the lads has and he said it’s about 3ft long and in the shape of a shell.
“It wouldn’t be that surprising if it was some sort of World War Two bomb as they sent all type of weapons up the River Tyne during the war.
“The police were on the scene pretty quickly and there’s a lot of people about in fluorescent jackets. We just have to wait and see what happens.”
This is the second time this year a suspected bomb has been found in the area.
The first, a 1000lb bomb, was located by fishermen in February and was detonated by the Royal Navy underwater a mile and a half off Tyneside coast.
Swan Hunter was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world but ceased shipbuilding operations on Tyneside in 2006.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments