Monthly UXO News Roundup – July 2025
From hand grenades in Lancashire, to 18-pdr artillery shells in Derbyshire – read about last month’s UXO discoveries in July’s news roundup…
Above: Heatmap showing the approximate locations of UXO discoveries, 1st-31st July 2025 (Zetica Ltd.)
Bedfordshire
An Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team were called on the 9th July to the discovery of a suspected hand grenade in Rectory Road, Campton, near Shefford. The exact type and date of the grenade have not been confirmed, and no further updates have been issued.
See: Campton: Bomb squad called after hand grenade found | The Comet
Cumbria:
On Sunday 6th July, Millom Coastguard Rescue Team attended reports of several suspected artillery shells being discovered by a member of the public on a beach near Millom. Photographs were forwarded to an EOD team for further action, but no updates have been issued.
Above: 1No. of the suspected shells discovered on Millom Beach (Millom Coastguard Rescue Team, courtesy of Whitehaven News)
See: Millom: Suspected explosive devices discovered on beach | Whitehaven News
Derbyshire
On the 4th July, Derbyshire Police were alerted to the discovery of several items of suspected Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) in Charlesworth, near Glossop. An Army EOD unit attended the scene and the devices were identified as 2No. 18-pdr artillery shells, likely WWI-era in origin. The devices were destroyed in a controlled explosion.
Above: The 2No. 18-pdr artillery shells discovered in Charlesworth (The Glossop Chronicle)
See: Bomb squad called over unexploded shells discovery in Derbyshire village – BBC News
Greater Manchester
On the 8th July, police were called to the discovery of an ‘unexploded device’ during renovations to a house on Shakespeare Drive, Cheadle. The device – which has been reported as a era shell, though unconfirmed – was rendered safe by an EOD team.
See: Police descend on Greater Manchester street as ‘bomb squad’ called – Manchester Evening News
Police attended Manchester City Centre, near Cornbrook tram stop, on the 19th July after item of suspected UXO was pulled from the Bridgewater Canal. An EOD team attended the scene and the device – reported as a ‘shell’ – was destroyed in a controlled explosion.
See: Explosion carried out after shell found in Old Trafford – Manchester Evening News
Police were alerted on the 26th July to the discovery of a suspected hand grenade on an area of land near Gorton Road, North Reddish. An EOD team attended the scene, but no further updates have been issued.
See: Bomb squad called & homes evacuated after ‘grenade’ found on residential street | The Sun
Hampshire:
On the 5th July, residents of Heaton Road in Gosport were evacuated from their homes after the discovery of an item of suspected UXO in a private garden. The device was safely removed by an EOD team and relocated to a secure location for controlled demolition. The exact nature of the device is unconfirmed.
See: Massive boom shocks Gosport after bomb discovered in garden
Lancashire:
On 12th July, Police were called to the discovery of a hand grenade by a metal detectorist off a rural road near Bolton-by-Bowland. An EOD team attended the scene and the grenade – believed to be WWII-era in date – was found to be inert and safely removed.
Above: WWII-era British No. 36 Mills Bombs
See: LIVE: Road shut and bomb squad called after ‘suspected grenade’ found – latest updates – LancsLive
Wales:
On the 19th July, Dyfed-Powys Police were called to the discovery of a ‘suspected unexploded ordnance shell’ on Freshwater West beach. The device –exact nature not confirmed – was rendered safe by an EOD team.
See: Bomb squad at Pembrokeshire’s ‘Harry Potter’ Freshwater West beach | Western Telegraph
On Wednesday 30th July, South Wales Police evacuated part of Bridgend town centre after 2No. items of suspected UXO were discovered. An EOD team attended the scene and the devices were safely removed. Their exact nature has not been confirmed.
See: Police evacuate Bridgend town centre twice after two devices discovered – Wales Online
Yorkshire:
On the 3rd July, South Yorkshire Police were called to reports of an explosive device being found at Cherry Wood Way in Waverley, Rotherham. An Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team attended the scene and the device – exact nature and origins unconfirmed – was safely relocated for controlled demolition.
See: Rotherham bomb: ‘Loud bang’ and roads closed after suspected bomb found on Waverley estate
