Monthly UXO News Roundup – May 2025
From a WWII 3” mortar in West Sussex to a hand grenade in Hampshire, read about May’s UXO discoveries across the UK with our latest news roundup, and explore our new heatmap…
As ever, commercial UXO companies like Zetica find and render safe UXO across the UK on a daily basis.
Heatmap showing the approximate locations of UXO discoveries recorded in the media, 1st-31st May 2025
Co. Durham
On the afternoon of the 2nd May, Durham Constabulary were called to reports of ‘Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)’ being discovered in a shed on Gilsland Crescent, in Darlington. A police cordon was established and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team called to attend the scene but no further updates have been issued. The device has been reported variously as a suspected grenade and Unexploded (UX) shell.
See: Unexploded ‘bomb’ found on Gilsland Crescent, Darlington | The Northern Echo
On the same day, Durham Constabulary were called to the discovery of an item of suspected UXO during works at the Seaham Garden Village development, off the A182. A police cordon was established and the device was safely removed to Hawthorn Quarry in Seaham for controlled demolition. The exact nature of the device has not been confirmed.
See: Unexploded bombs detonated after chaos in County Durham | The Northern Echo
Devon
On the 24th May, Devon & Cornwall Police were alerted to the discovery of a suspected item of UXO on the beach near Teignmouth Pier. A cordon was established and EOD officers attended the scene, but no further updates have been released.
See: Bomb disposal called to Teignmouth beach – Exeter Today
Essex
On the 9th May, a number of British WWII-era Anti-Aircraft (AA) shells were discovered by a bait digger in a creek near Old Leigh in South Essex. Police and an Army EOD team attended the scene. Hazardous shells were destroyed in controlled explosions.
See: WW2 Bombs Found – Leigh-on-Sea | News
WWII-era British 3.7” AA shells, which may be similar to the type of devices discovered in Essex. The Quick-Firing (QF) 3.7” AA gun was the most common Heavy AA (HAA) gun in British service during WWII.
On the 14th May, Southend-on-Sea Coastguard were called to reports of an item of UXO being discovered by a member of the public along a restricted stretch of Shoebury Common Beach, operated by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). An Army EOD team attended and the device – reported as a WWII-era AA shell, though unconfirmed – was destroyed in a controlled explosion (see below).
Controlled detonation of ordnance on Shoebury Common Beach (BBC News, courtesy of HM Coastguard Southend-on-Sea)
See: WW2 shell in Shoeburyness is detonated after being found on beach – BBC News
Hertfordshire
On the 12th May, Hertfordshire Police were called to reports of a ‘suspected unexploded bomb’ being discovered by workmen digging the Morrisons car park in Black Fan Road, Welwyn Gaden City. Police established a cordon and the store was evacuated, but no further updates have been issued.
See: Bomb squad called to Welwyn Garden City Morrisons – recap | Welwyn Hatfield Times
Isle of Wight
On the 15th May, Solent Coastguard were alerted to the discovery of suspected ordnance on the South Wight coastline. Initial attempts by Coastguard officers to locate the device were unsuccessful, due to the advancing tide, but the position was later confirmed. The device – reported as 1940s in origin – was destroyed by a RN EOD team in a controlled explosion.
See: WORLD WAR-ERA ORDNANCE DETONATED AT DAWN BY BOMB DISPOSAL TEAM – Isle of Wight News – Island Echo
Kent
Kent Police were called on the 16th May to reports of possible live ordnance being discovered at the Oaks Industrial Park near Manston. An MoD team attended the scene, but no further updates have been issued.
See: Bomb disposal team called to The Oaks industrial estate at Manston – The Isle Of Thanet News
Lancashire
On the 2nd May, a member of the Lune Valley Metal Detecting Club unearthed a WWII-era hand grenade during an event at Thurland Castle, near Tunstall, Lancashire. An EOD team attended the scene and confirmed the device as live. It was destroyed in situ in a controlled detonation.
See: Kirkby Lonsdale fundraiser ‘has a bang’ as grenade unearthed | The Mail
WWII-era Mills Bomb discovered at Thurland Castle (Westmorland Gazette)
Lincolnshire
On the 2nd May, Humber Coastguard received reports of an item of suspected UXO being discovered on the northeast shore of the River Humber, adjacent to the Cley Channel. A controlled detonation was carried out by an EOD team on the shore, but the exact nature of the device has not been confirmed.
See: Wells RNLI lifeboat sent to reports of unexploded bomb | Eastern Daily Press
Northumberland
On the 13th May, emergency services were alerted to the discovery of a ‘suspected unexploded device’ in a garden on Cragside Court in Rothbury, Northumberland. Police and an Army EOD team attended the scene, but no further updates have been issued.
Oxfordshire
On the 15th May, Oxfordshire Police were called to the discovery of an unexploded grenade by a member of the public magnet fishing in the canal near Paradise Street. The grenade – the origins of which are not confirmed – was removed by an Army EOD team to a safe location for disposal.
See: Oxford: Bomb squad called out to incident by canal | Oxford Mail
West Sussex
On the 3rd May, a reported ‘unexploded historic bomb’ was discovered on the banks of the River Arun in West Sussex. A Royal Navy (RN) EOD team attended the scene and identified the device as an unexploded WWII-era 3” mortar round. The device was disposed of safely.
See: Unexploded World War Two bomb found near river in Arundel – BBC News
A WWII 3” mortar round, similar in type to the device discovered in Arundel (©Zetica)
