UXO News Roundup – August-September 2025
More than thirty UXO discoveries have been made across the UK in the last two months, from grenades to practice bombs.
Explore the UK’s latest discoveries on our heatmap and read about some of the most significant finds from August and September below.
Above: Heatmap showing the approximate locations of UXO discoveries, 1st August – 30th September 2025
Cambridgeshire:
On the 18th September, 76No. WWII-era practice bombs were excavated from a pit in a field of Longstowe Road in Cambridgeshire, close to Gransden Lodge Airfield. An Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team attended and the bombs were destroyed in a controlled explosion.
Above: WWII practice bombs recovered from field off Longstowe Road, Cambridgeshire (Cambridgeshire Police)
Read our recent coverage of the discovery below:
76No. WWII Practice Bombs Found in Cambridgeshire Field | Zetica UXO
Cheshire:
On the 28th September, Macclesfield Police were called to reports of a ‘suspected WWII device’ being discovered on Priest Lane in the village of Mottram St. Andrew. The device was removed to a nearby field by an Army EOD team for controlled demolition.
See: Homes evacuated in Cheshire village after suspected WW2 device found | Northwich Guardian
Hampshire:
On the 7th August, Police attended reports of an item of suspected Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) being discovered by workmen in Priory Park, in Bishop’s Waltham. A Royal Navy (RN) EOD team attended the scene and the device – confirmed as a WWII-era Anti-Aircraft (AA) ‘shell casing’ – was removed for safe disposal.
Above: The AA shell casing discovered by workmen in Priory Park (Meon Valley Times)
See: Second World War ordnance removed from Bishop’s Waltham park by Royal Navy bomb squad
Kent:
On 23rd August, a WWII-era Mills bomb was unearthed by a member of the public digging their back garden on Queen’s Avenue, Snodland, in Kent.
An Army EOD team attended the scene and the grenade was removed to a safe location for controlled demolition.
Above: Mills bomb unearthed on Queen’s Avenue, Snodland (Sam Smith)
See: Homeowner unearths live Second World War grenade while digging in his garden in Snodland
On the 31st August, Margate Coastguard responded to reports of an item of suspected UXO being discovered on the shore of West Bay, near Westgate in Kent. The device – a suspected WWII-era mortar – was at first covered by the rising tide, but later destroyed by an EOD team in a controlled detonation.
See: Bomb disposal team detonates device as West Bay near Westgate reopens
Northern Ireland:
On the 26th September, Army Technical Officers (ATO) were alerted to the discovery of several items of suspected UXO during archaeological excavations ahead of a housing development in Coleraine.
The devices – identified as WWII-era mortars – were destroyed in a controlled explosion off nearby Strand Road.
Above: 2” High Explosive (HE) mortar round, likely similar to the device discovered at the building site in Coleraine (©Zetica Ltd.)
See: Coleraine: Work paused after historic mortar bombs found at building site – BBC News
Wales:
On the 5th August, an evacuation of residents and businesses was undertaken in Penarth, South Wales, after 3No. Unexploded WWII German Incendiary Bombs (UXIBs) were unearthed in a garden on Plassey Street. The devices were rendered safe by an EOD team.
Above: German UXIBs on Plessey Street, shortly following excavation (South Wales Police)
See: Homes evacuated as German war firebombs found in Penarth garden | South Wales Argus
