UXO News Roundup – Summer 2026
A large number of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) finds have been made across the UK in the past few months. This included UXO exposed by the wildfire that engulfed a large part of Dunwich Heath, in Suffolk, towards the end of July.
Explore the UK’s latest discoveries on our heatmap and read about some of the most significant UXO finds from this summer below.
Above: Heatmap showing the approximate locations of UXO discoveries, 1st June – 17th September 2026
Cambridgeshire
On the 27th August, Cambridgeshire Police were called to the River Cam near Jesus Green, in Cambridge, where a suspected item of UXO was pulled from the river by a magnet fisherman. An Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team attended and assessed the device – identified as a suspected WWI-era howitzer shell – as unviable.
See: ‘Suspicious’ WW1 device pulled out of River Cam | Cambridgeshire Live
Cumbria:
Twice in September, on the 4th and 15th, rescue teams from Whitehaven and Millom Coastguards were called to Drigg Beach in Cumbria, following reports of several items of suspected UXO being discovered.
EOD teams attended in both instances and a total of eight items of UXO were destroyed in two controlled explosions. The devices include suspected shells and mortars.
Last week, our Managing Director, Mike Sainsbury, was invited to discuss the finds with BBC Radio Cumbria – please see our recent post on the ZeticaUXO LinkedIn feed.
Above: One of the suspected shells discovered on Drigg Beach on the 15th September (Millom Coastguard Rescue Team)
See: Drigg beach bomb squad destroys five suspected explosives – BBC News
Drigg beach throws up more explosive ordnance finds – BBC News
Dorset:
On the 3rd July, Dorset Police were called to an address off Ringwood Road, St. Leonards, after an item of suspected UXO was uncovered by a construction worker. The device – a suspected WWII-era unexploded mortar – was found to be unviable and safely removed.
Above: the suspected UX mortar in situ in St. Leonards (Bournemouth Echo, courtesy of Neil Haydon)
See: Builder’s shock as he unearths bomb in St Leonards garden | Bournemouth Echo
Essex:
On the 1st July, a team from the Essex Coastguard investigated reports of an item of suspected UXO being discovered on Shoebury Beach. Returning at low tide with Army EOD officers the same evening, the device was identified as a 6” naval shell. The shell was safely relocated away from the shoreline for controlled demolition.
Above: detonation of the 6” naval shell on Shoebury Beach (His Majesty’s (HM) Coastguard Southend-on-Sea)
See: Live unexploded bomb detonated off Essex coastline – Essex Live
On the 12th September, crews from HM Coastguard Southend and an Army EOD team were called to reports of a suspected UXO item being washed up on Chalkwell Oaze Flats, near the Crowstone at Southend-on-Sea. The device – a suspected WWII-era shell – was destroyed in situ by controlled demolition.
Above: the WWII-era shell discovered on Chalkwell Oaze Flats (HM Coastguard Southend)
See: Southend coastguard called to unexploded World War Two bomb | Echo
Hertfordshire:
On the 30th June, police were called to reports of a Mills bomb being discovered in a field off Coopers Green Lane in Hatfield. The grenade was destroyed in a controlled explosion.
See: Bomb squad called to suspicious device in Hatfield | Welwyn Hatfield Times
Kent:
On 21st July, a team from 621 Squadron, Explosive Ordnance & Search (EOD&S) Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps (RLC), were alerted to the discovery of a suspected item of UXO in a garden in Gillingham. The device – confirmed as WWII-era 6lb solid shot, was removed for disposal.
See: Bomb squad called after dad digs up Second World War mortar shell in Gillingham garden
On September 5th, Kent Police attended reports of an item of suspected UXO being discovered near the village hall in Staple. The device – identified as a WWII-era 3” mortar – was destroyed by an EOD team from 11 EOD&S Regiment RLC.
See: Bomb squad called to village hall in Staple, near The Black Pig pub, after wartime mortar found
On the 13th September, a crew from Deal Coastguard Rescue Team attended the northern end of Sandwich Bay, after reports indicated that several items of suspected UXO had been discovered. The items – which have been reported as WWII-era smoke grenades – were destroyed by an EOD team in a controlled explosion.
See: Sandwich Bay beach ordnance destroyed in controlled explosion – BBC News
Oxfordshire:
On 23rd August, Thames Valley Police (TVP) were called to Donnington Bridge near Oxford, after a WWII grenade was pulled from the River Thames. The grenade was removed to fields south of the bridge and destroyed in a controlled explosion.
Above: the grenade pulled from the River Thames at Donnington Bridge (TVP)
See: Elephant-like grenade found in Oxford stream blown up in field – BBC News
Scotland:
On July 18th, Scottish Police and EOD officers attended reports of a suspicious item being discovered on East Sands, St. Andrews. The device was identified as a smoke float and safely destroyed in a controlled explosion.
See: MOD reveals St Andrews beach find after controlled explosion
Staffordshire
On 4th August, a reported WWII-era 500lb Unexploded Bomb (UXB) was discovered at a quarry near Walton-on Trent, on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border. A cordon was established and the device was destroyed in a controlled explosion on August 6th.
See: Warning as ‘WWII bomb’ to be detonated near main Derbyshire road | Derbyshire Live
Suffolk
In late July/early August, firefighters extinguishing the wildfire which engulfed approximately 150 hectares of National Trust heathland at Dunwich reported that two items of suspected UXO had been exposed. The devices were assessed by an EOD team and identified as a WWII-era phosphorous mortar and mortar fuze. They were dealt with safely. A drone survey is planned by the National Trust to identify further UXO.
Dunwich Heath was part of the Dunwich Training Area during WWII and used extensively for military training – especially during preparations for D-Day in June 1944.
See: Drones to hunt for unexploded Second World War bombs exposed by wildfire | The Standard
Surrey
On the 26th June, Surrey Police were called to the discovery of a suspected WWII-era UX mortar on Frensham Common, near Farnham. EOD officers were called to the scene, and the device was destroyed in a controlled explosion.
See: Teens find unexploded mortar at Frensham Common beauty spot near Farnham | Farnham Herald
Wales
Between late May and early July, Dyfed-Powys Police and Borth Coastguard were called to a series of suspected WWII-era UXO finds on Ynyslas Beach in Ceredigion.
The items were all destroyed in controlled explosions by Army EOD teams.
Several UXO finds have been made on Ynyslas beach since 1945, which was encompassed during WWII by an offshore weapons testing range.
Above: the controlled demolition of suspected UXO munitions on Ynyslas Beach, June 2026 (HM Coastguard Borth)
See: Explosion rocks notorious Welsh beach | North Wales Live
Another explosion on notorious Welsh beach after bomb squad callout | North Wales Live
Ynyslas beach cordoned off after unexploded ordnances found | County Times
