April 23, 2015 2.04 pm This story is over 107 months old

Unexploded bomb discovered at RAF Waddington

Bomb discovered: Contractors renewing the runway at RAF Waddington have unearthed what’s thought to be an old mortar shell from WW2.
Satellite view of the RAF Waddington base near Lincoln. Image: Google Maps

Contractors renewing the runway at RAF Waddington have unearthed what’s thought to be an unexploded mortar shell, possibly from WW2.

Update, 3.10pm: The A15 has now been reopened.

Update, 4.45pm: EOD attended and the shell was identified as a WW2 practice / training device and did not need any form of controlled explosion. It has now been removed.

The discovery was made near to the A15 which runs by the base.

At the time of writing the A15 has been closed for safety reasons. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) who deal with such items are on their way to the scene.

Lincolnshire Police say the road may be closed for several hours and local diversions are being set up at the scene.

Motorists are being told to avoid the area for the time being as there will be unavoidable delays in and around the area.

Wing Commander Matthew Nicholas, Officer Commanding Operations Wing at RAF Waddington said: “RAF Waddington runway is undergoing a major re-build programme at present.

“During excavations today a single small piece of unexploded ordnance has been discovered.

“Military Explosive Ordnance Disposal experts have been called in to assess the situation and to dispose of the device appropriately.

“As a precaution contractors who had been working in the immediate vicinity of the device have been evacuated from the area and a cordon has been put in place.

“The cordon will regretfully cause a stretch of the A15 to close until the device has been safely disposed of.

“There has been no need to evacuate Station personnel and there has been no impact on operations.”