BOMB squads were called to an unexploded device outside homes worth upwards of £5m. 

The Coastguard, Royal Navy and police all cordoned off a private jetty off Gardens Road in Lilliput, Poole, on Tuesday, August 20. 

Emergency services arrived that evening to find it amongst the seaweed, however, due to the tide, they had to come back the next day and wait for the bomb squad to arrive from Portsmouth. 

Poole’s Coastguard said the bomb “was a danger to life and would have caused damage” to the surrounding area had it not been discovered and removed. 

It was taken back to Portsmouth to be safely detonated there. 

(Image: Poole Coastguard)

(Image: Poole Coastguard)

A spokesman for HM Coastguard said: “An item of suspected ordnance reported below the waterline at Lilliput, Poole, at about 7.50pm on 20 August was safely removed by a Royal Navy explosive ordnance disposal team. 

“Poole Coastguard rescue team attended, when required, to set up a safety cordon. The item was removed at about 5pm on 21 August. Dorset Police was also alerted.” 

Dorset Police’s spokesman said: “At 7.43pm on Tuesday 20 August 2024, Dorset Police received a report from a member of public of a possible unexploded device off the private jetty of a property in Dorset Lake Avenue in Poole.  

“We were advised that the coastguard were in attendance and a cordon was put in place.  

“Following liaison with the explosive ordnance disposal team, the device was assessed before it was removed safely from the premises at around 8.20am on Wednesday 21 August 2024.” 

Poole Coastguard added: “Once the Navy bomb disposal team were on scene, the mortar was checked and confirmed. 

“After discussions about safely detonating the object, due to the location of the ordnance and with other ideal areas being busy and other agencies needed, due to the time of the year.  

(Image: Poole Coastguard)

“The Navy bomb disposal team physically removed the high explosive stokes mortar from the shore, and transported it following their protocols back to Portsmouth, to be detonated on their range.  

“The team would like to thank both military organisations for their attendance in this incident and most importantly the member of the public for reporting the object. 

“The mortar was in a deteriorating live state, which was a danger to life and would cause damage to the surrounding area if it had detonated.”