Explosives experts from the British Army have safely destroyed a historic Second World War bomb discovered in a Warwickshire field. The controlled detonation took place after the device, believed to be an 80-year-old mortar round, was found by a farmer near the village of Wellesbourne.
Discovery and Overnight Vigil
The operation began on Monday, 1 December 2025, when Warwickshire Police were alerted to the unexploded ordnance on farmland close to Walton Hall. Officers, including Inspector Jamie Cramp, immediately attended the scene. With permission from the landowner, a 100-metre safety cordon was established.
Police guarded the site overnight until daylight, when it was safe for the Army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team to conduct the operation. Inspector Cramp noted that such discoveries are not uncommon in the county, happening several times a year, often involving leftover British munitions from training or Home Guard stockpiles.
The Controlled Detonation
On the morning of Tuesday, 2 December, the EOD team arrived to neutralise the threat. The old round, identified as a likely British three-inch mortar from the 1940s, was carefully covered with sandbags donated by Highways teams.
After setting up the necessary equipment for a controlled explosion, all personnel moved to a safe distance. The honour of triggering the detonation was given to PC Rhea, who had patiently guarded the scene through the night. Footage of the blast was later shared by Warwickshire Police.
Public Warning Issued
Following the successful operation, Inspector Cramp issued a stark reminder to the public about the dangers of historic munitions. He urged anyone finding a suspicious item to call 999 immediately and not to touch or move the object.
"Almost every time people are very sensible and they call us," he said, before recounting a cautionary tale. "I’ll always remember the time a man found an old hand grenade outside of the county, brought it home to Nuneaton by train, and only then decided to call us."
He emphasised the critical message: "Goes without saying - if you spot anything that looks like it was designed to explode, give us a ring on 999 and we’ll handle it."
