UK town faces crisis after 176 WWII bombs found at playground site

Construction of a children’s playground in Wooler, Northumberland, UK, came to an abrupt stop after workers unearthed 176 unexploded World War II bombs beneath the site.

The Army has since sealed off the area as bomb disposal experts continue their investigation, Caliber.Az reports referring to British media.

The first device was discovered on January 14, prompting Northumbria Police to call in a bomb disposal team from Catterick Barracks in North Yorkshire. As their search continued, dozens more were found buried beneath the surface of Scotts Park.

Experts confirmed the devices were wartime training bombs that still contained a charge. The hazardous munitions were safely removed for disposal. Investigators believe the area was once a Home Guard training ground, with the bombs buried at the end of the war.

The unexpected discovery has left parents and local officials in shock, as the site was set to become a £150,000 ($186,000) fully inclusive playpark expansion. Instead, what was meant to be a space for children now resembles an excavation site, with large piles of dug-up earth replacing the planned slides and climbing frames.

“I never thought as a parish councillor I’d be dealing with bomb disposal,” Councillor Mark Mather told the BBC. “It’s quite something to think the children have been playing on bombs. It’s been a really challenging situation.”

Mather warned that the full extent of the issue is still unknown. “We’ve only cleared about a third of the park, and we could still find another pit with more bombs in,” he said.

Following the initial discovery, another device was found the next day, prompting the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to order a full site survey. Specialist contractor Brimstone Site Investigations uncovered an additional 65 bombs, each weighing 4.5 kg, before finding 90 more the following day as the search area was expanded.

The ongoing investigation has delayed the playground’s construction and is expected to continue until at least mid-February.

A spokesperson for the parish council highlighted the financial strain the discovery has placed on local authorities. “The Ministry of Defence does not recover the devices found or help with the cost of the surveys and clearance,” the spokesperson said.

“Wooler Parish Council could have been facing a potential bill of £30,000 to £40,000 before groundworks even began to restore the site for contractors. If Northumberland County Council had not stepped in to help, the parish council could have been facing either bankruptcy or a doubling of the precept.”

The site remains sealed off as experts continue to assess whether more hazardous material lies beneath the surface.

By Tamilla Hasanova