WW2 Pipe Bomb Shuts Down Roads and Solent Airport Overnight
A major bomb scare is gripping Fareham tonight after a World War Two pipe bomb was discovered near Solent Airport, forcing a huge 100-metre cordon and road closures in the area.
Residents Locked Down as Bomb Experts Take Control
Stubbington Lane and surrounding roads including Moody Road, Eric Road, Sea Lane, and Crofton Avenue are all closed off to non-residential traffic. Residents can access their homes but face strict police orders to stay indoors and away from windows while bomb disposal experts work through the night.
Specialists from Cambridge have been called in to deploy ground-penetrating radar to pinpoint the device’s location. The Royal Navy Bomb Disposal Unit has spent hours attaching explosives to safely detonate the pipe bomb at first light.
Solent Airport Closes Amid Explosive Alert
The nearby Solent Airport, immortalised in Harry Styles’ Dunkirk movie, remains shut all afternoon and evening as a precaution. Police took immediate action after contractors unearthed the device during construction of a new substation at Swordfish Business Park.
Fareham Borough Council confirmed the discovery and said: “Police are investigating and the airport closure is necessary for public safety.”
Officials Urge Calm and Caution
“It is the right thing to do – we are not taking any risks,” said Council leader Sean Woodward. “Many pipe bombs were laid during the war and this could be one that has never been found before. Either way, we’re playing it safe.”
A Hampshire Constabulary spokeswoman added: “We were called at 12.38pm to the HMS Daedalus site after a historic ordnance was discovered. Officers remain on scene in contact with the EOD team. No evacuations are currently needed.”
Traffic diversions are in place, with drivers advised to avoid the affected areas if possible.
