More than 300 homes in Falmouth were evacuated after a suspected World War Two bomb was found in the water at Falmouth Docks. Superintendent Ian Thompson said anyone within the expanded cordon was strongly urged to leave by 09:00 BST.
The device was described as a suspected 250lb American World War Two air-dropped bomb. Cornwall Council said the operation to remove it was ongoing, while emergency services, council staff and volunteers went door to door as the evacuation widened.
Falmouth Docks cordon
Emergency services were called to Falmouth Docks at 09:15 BST on Monday, after the bomb was found in the water. A 300m exclusion zone was then expanded to 755m, pushing the response beyond the first safety line and into a larger residential area.
That expansion is the point residents needed to act on. Ian Thompson said, "If the cordon is extended and you live within this area, you are strongly urged to leave your home by 09:00 BST". People living inside the 755m cordon were asked to get out before the area was widened further.
All Saints Church reception
Cornwall Council set up a temporary reception area at All Saints Church on Killigrew Street for people leaving their homes. That gave evacuees a place to go while the cordon remained in place and the bomb disposal work continued.
Train services between Falmouth Docks and Falmouth Town were suspended by GWR, adding disruption for anyone trying to move through the area. For passengers and residents, the practical step was the same: stay clear of the cordon and use the reception point if they needed support.
Royal Navy team in Falmouth
Jayne Kirk said the bomb disposal team was expected to move the ordnance this afternoon, and she described the Royal Navy team as doing "an amazing job". That points to a fast-moving operation rather than a settled closure, with the key limit still set by the bomb itself.
For people in Falmouth, the immediate question is simple: remain outside the 755m zone until the cordon is lifted. The movement of the ordnance this afternoon is the step that should allow the evacuation to ease, once the area has been made safe.
