Bomb forces evacuation of stude student halls in Exeter

MORE than 1,0 1,000 students were forced to move to temporary accommodation yesterday after an unexploded Second World War bomb was unearthed near a university campus.

Around 2,600 homes were evacuated in Exeter city centre after builders discovered an 8ft-long device at a construction site on Friday morning.

An initial 100m cordon in Glenthorne Road was extended to 400m yesterday at the request of Royal Navy bomb specialists deployed to inspect the device. A controlled explosion was due to be carried out by Army officers.

Residents, who included 1,400 university students, were ordered to leave their homes during the operation, which caused surrounding roads to be shut and rail services to be disrupted.

Police said council officials had dispatched teams to help students find alternative accommodation, which saw some taken to a nearby Holiday Inn hotel.

A Devon and Cornwall police spokesman said: “The mass evacuation of around 2,600 properties in the vicinity of Glenthornne Glenthorne Road, Exeter this morning has concluded following the discovery of a possible unexploded World War Two bomb. The majority of residents, including approximately 1,400 Exeter University students, were confirmed to have vacated their homes by 10.30am.”

The University of Exeter tweeted it would “support those who are affected until the situation is resolved and buildings are reopened”.

It said: ““We will communicate directly later today by email with those students whoo who have been relocated.”

A Devon County Council spokesman added: “Anyone who was required to leave their home while the bomb disposal team work to make the area safe has been encouraged to visit friends or family, unless they are Covid-19 positive or self-isolating. Support is being provided to thesee these individuals around suitable accommodation.

“Those who are clinically vulnerable or clinically extremely vulnerable have been offered additional support and advice to help them remain safe.”