A Council in the UK unearthed an explosive discovery when they found over 170 WWII-era bombs buried underneath an unassuming children's play area.
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According to the BBC, Wooler Parish Council in Northumberland secured a $186,725 grant to build a fully inclusive playpark. Planners intended for the new playpark to sit alongside an existing play area in Scotts Park. However, alarm bells started ringing when workers began digging foundations.
Staff unearthed the first suspicious object on January 14. The following day, workers found another device. An expert from Catterick Barracks identified the first find as a training bomb. By day two, the Ministry of Defence said a complete site survey was required before more work could occur.
The BBC explains that Brimstone Site Investigations, a specialist contractor, was hired for a two-day survey. The contractor quickly found 65 bombs in the ground, each weighing 10lbs. On the second day, Brimstone Site Investigations found 90 more bombs as they expanded their search.
Per a press release by Wooler Parish Council, the team quickly realized 'the scale of the problem was far greater than anyone had anticipated.' The press release explains that the bombs were just for practice, although they still carry a charge. Smoke cartridges were also found during the survey.
The BBC interviewed Conservative councilor Mark Mather, who explained, "I never thought as a parish councilor I'd be dealing with bomb disposal. It's quite something to think the children have been playing on bombs, and it's been a really challenging situation."
Mather Explains How The Bombs May Have Got Under The Playground
While there's no official explanation on how so much ordnance ended up buried under a play area, Mather told the BBC one theory. According to locals, Wooler was a center for Home Guard training. Officers visited the site from all across the UK. When the war ended, it seemed the bombs were just buried in pits instead of being dismantled.
Mather also explained that he was unsure how the parish council would pay for the extra work as the project has extended far beyond just adding a playpark. Fortunately, the Wooler Parish Council press release explains that Northumberland County Council is assisting with fees.
