Unexploded ordnance 'safely removed' from seafront

MACC International Ltd The ordnance out of the water, there is sea in the background and it is in the clasp of the digger. It is a large, dark grey colour with signs of erosion and rusty colour rocks stuck to the right hand side of itMACC International Ltd
MACC International Ltd said police and the Royal Navy were called after the discovery of the weapon

A piece of unexploded ordnance that led to buildings along a seafront being evacuated has been safely removed.

Cordons were put in place in the Pier Road area of in Southsea after police were called at 09:37 GMT.

A spokesperson for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said Blue Reef Aquarium, the D-Day Museum, Clarence Pier and parts of Southsea Common were evacuated and cordoned off during the operation.

A large police presence remained in Southsea after the discovery, but shortly after 21:00 police said the area had been made safe.

MACC International Ltd A yellow digger is lifting the ordnance out of the water along Southsea seafront, the shore is covered with rocks and there is the sea in the backgroundMACC International Ltd
MACC International Ltd released a statement saying they identified a SC1,000kg Air Delivered Weapon

A spokesperson said: "Our partners in the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team have now safely removed the ordnance from the area.

"The Southsea cordons have now been lifted."

The BBC was told by an eyewitness that a bomb was found by a digger during coastal defence works between Blue Reef Aquarium and Hovertravel.

MACC International Ltd, a company specialising in unexploded ordnance risk, has since released images of the weapon on social media.

The company said the ordnance had been found while staff were providing support to the coastal sea defence works and it had been identified as a SC1,000kg air delivered weapon.

A section of road along Clarence Esplanade, there is a section of pavement to the left of the frame, which is lined with grass, trees and blue lamposts. A marked police van is parked up to the left of the road, on the right of the road is an open back truck, which a police officer wearing black uniform standing next to the driver's door. The vehicles are behind a police cordon, made using orange and white traffic cones and there is a red sign just infront of the police officer which reads 'Road closed'.
A police cordon was put in place as a safety precaution

Road closures were put in place in October for the defence works, which will last until 2026, and there is a temporary footpath through the common.

According to the eyewitness, the unexploded ordnance was found in the construction area and is between 4ft to 5ft (1.2m to 1.5m) long.

Police set up road blocks around Southsea Common, and urged members of the public to avoid the area during the recovery.

No residential properties were evacuated.

The MoD is yet to comment on the discovery.

MACC International Ltd A digger lifts the ordnance out of the water. Close up shot of the weapon, with a yellow digger clasp around it. It is a large, dark grey colour with signs of erosion and rusty colour rocks stuck to the right hand side of it.MACC International Ltd
An eyewitness said the unexploded ordnance was found in the coastal defence works construction area