Street evacuated after discovery of 'mortar bomb' in Holbeach St Marks

A village street was evacuated at the weekend after a suspected mortar bomb was discovered.

The potential explosive was uncovered by builders working at Crown Avenue in Holbeach St Marks.

The road was closed for around four hours on Saturday while police and the Army’s bomb specialists attended the scene.

“One of our team uncovered it,” explained Luke Connolly of Connolly & Son, who are constructing homes on the site.

Mr Connolly said the authorities were called when it was believed the device could be dangerous.

“We’ve seen this sort of thing in the area before, that time it was an explosive and had to be detonated,” he added.

“We’re not too far from the bombing range.

“Some people had to leave their houses but it was important to keep everybody safe.

“They didn’t want their properties to be damaged, we couldn’t just throw it in a skip.”

A police statement confirmed officers were called in at 12.41pm.

“It was reported that a suspect mortar bomb had been found during excavations at an address on Crown Avenue, Holbeach St Marks,” it continued.

“A number of residents were evacuated as a precaution.

“The Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialists attended, they found the item was not a risk to anyone, that there was no danger.

“They took the item away for disposal.”

Residents were able to return to their properties shortly after 4.30pm.