WW2 bomb detonated after discovery at quarry

A suspected unexploded World War Two bomb found at a quarry in Staffordshire has been safely detonated in a planned controlled explosion.

A small number of residents were evacuated from near the quarry site on Walton Lane, Barton-under-Needwood on Thursday, with a 900m (2,953ft) cordon put in place between 18:00 and 20:00 BST.

The cordon had since been reduced to 200m (656ft) and would be fully removed, with people able to return to their homes, Staffordshire Police said at 20:00 BST.

All railway lines running between Tamworth and Burton-on-Trent were blocked earlier, with some trains cancelled or delayed by up to an hour prior to the explosion, National Rail said.

Disruption caused by the wartime bomb near the railway was cleared at 19:40 BST, a spokesperson added.

The A38 and other roads that were closed would also be reopened to traffic, officers said.

The unexploded bomb was reported to police on Tuesday morning, with the area evacuated as Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) specialists assessed the object.

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