Army carry out controlled explosion of 'largest' WWII bomb found on British soil

A CCTV camera from a business in Aston in Birmingham has captured the moment of a controlled explosion of a World War Two bomb.

The bomb was discovered on Monday and was made safe by disposal experts yesterday.

A World War Two bomb that exploded yesterday (16 May) under controlled circumstances has damaged two buildings and left behind tons of sand.

Bomb disposal experts worked overnight after the discovery on Monday morning to make the unexploded WW2 shell safe.

The army said that because of the condition of the bomb, they were unable to move it to a safer place to detonate.

This left the soldiers with only one option, a controlled explosion.

The images show two damaged business premises next to the site the bomb exploded. One is a plastics recycling centre and the other, a paper bag manufacturer.

Construction staff working at a site off Priory Road in Birmingham came across the device during routine work.

The video shows the amount of sand used by the Army to cushion the blast.

The Army has described a Second World War bomb, found in Birmingham, as one of the largest unexploded bombs to have been found on British soil.

Troops needed to conduct a significant amount of mitigation work to prepare the site for a controlled explosion, due to the amount of sensitive infrastructure in the area, particularly the A38 Aston Expressway flyover and a gas pipe, an Army spokesman said.

Dozens of people spent the night in a rest centre as hundreds of nearby homes were evacuated after the discovery on Monday night (15 May).

The Red Cross said around 80 people were cared for overnight by volunteers.

Bomb disposal experts covered the bomb with 250 tons of sand before carrying the controlled explosion.

Our reporter spotted one determined gentleman who was strolling down an empty Aston Expressway in Birmingham after it was closed off to cars due to work to dispose of an unexploded WWII bomb.

The man told us he was "on his way to the gym" in Erdington,...

A West Midlands Police drone has captured the moment at WWII bomb was detonated in a controlled explosion close to the Aston Expressway.

The discovery of the device caused major disruption, with the A38(M) and part of the M6 closed for several hours.

The A38(M) Aston Expressway has reopened after the controlled explosion of a Second World War bomb found close by.

Video of a controlled explosion of a WWII bomb which was discovered in Aston in Birmingham. (Credit BPM Media)

Bomb disposal experts covered the bomb with 250 tons of sand before carrying out the explosion.

Reports suggest the bomb could be heard as far as Sutton Coldfield.

The Army, who carried out the explosion say it was one of the largest unexploded bombs to have been found on British soil.

A section of the M6 has re-opened following the controlled explosion of a Second World War bomb.

The M6 has re-opened southbound between junction 7 for Great Barr and the M42 and northbound from the M42 to junction 7.

Highways England is urging motorists to leave extra time for their journeys.

The A38(M) Aston Expressway, linking Birmingham city centre with the M6, remains closed at this time.

West Midlands Police has confirmed that a controlled explosion has taken place to dispose of an old Second World War bomb discovered in Aston in Birmingham.

It has caused severe disruption for the last couple of days, with surrounding homes and businesses evacuated, along with closures on major routes such as the A38(M) and the M6.

Police are to close the M6 between junctions 4 and 7 in both directions so a controlled explosion of a World War Two bomb can be carried out.

Other closures are between A38 Aston Road / A4540 Newtown Middleway (Dartmouth Circus) and M6 J6 / A38(M) Aston Expressway / A5127 Gravelly Hill / Slade Road Spaghetti Junction.

Construction staff working at a site off Priory Road, Aston, came across the device during routine work at around 9.45am yesterday morning − and it was quickly identified as a German shell weighing up to 500lbs.