Parents will have been left horrified to discover their children were playing atop a pile of nearly 200 World War Two bombs. Experts have unearthed 176 ordnance devices from below a playground in Wooler, Northumberland, after embarking on a major recovery operation earlier this year. Practice devices with in-tact charges were stuffed under the plot of land decades ago and discovered in January after the local council received a major grant to expand a local playground.
Staff found the first ordnance device while placing foundations for the £150,000 site on January 14, sparking a major effort that has since uncovered hundreds more. The discovery has rocked the small northern community, with locals convinced officials have only partly unveiled a massive bomb burial site. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) ordered a survey of the play area after a second device was found on January 15, with specialist contractors Brimstone Site Investigations called in to carry it out. Staff with the service found a further 65 bombs, and, by day two of the survey, had recovered 90.
A spokesperson for the local parish council has revealed that bombs and "other items", including grenades, cartridges and bullets could be among the ditched stockpile. The unusual and startling finds are believed to be the remains of a training ground formerly used by the Home Guard during World War Two. Wooler may have been a training spot for the volunteer forces group in the 1940s, with people coming from across the UK to participate. The now playground is believed to have been used as a depository for unused test munitions, and dumbfounded local officials believe more could be found as the investigation continues.
Speaking to the BBC, local Tory councillor Mark Mather said he "never thought" he'd be dealing with a situation like this. He said: "It's quite something to think the children have been playing on bombs and it's been a really challenging situation. We've only cleared about a third of all the park and we could still find another pit with more bombs in.". Locals are convinced more devices will be found, with one Jenna Wales questioning whether the "whole field" is at risk, not just the corner encompassing the playground. Another local, Phil Weatherup, joked: "Probably not the best place for a game of hopscotch." A spokesperson for Wooler Parish Council said in a statement that all works have stopped at the site as Brimstone continues to clear unexploded ordnance, with the investigation set to continue until July.
