WW2 bomb blown up off Portsmouth is damp squib

A World War Two bomb dragged out of Portsmouth Harbour to be blasted apart by the navy has turned out to be a damp squib.

The whole of Gunwharf Quays shopping and leisure complex and the seafront near the device was evacuated in the expectation of a massive explosion that would send a huge plume of seawater into the air.

The Royal Navy blew up the 1,100lb (500kg) bomb at 7am this morning - but not a ripple was detected on the water's surface.

It left the confused navy crew bobbing in a rigid inflatable craft just over a mile to the east of the Isle of Wight, not knowing whether their efforts had worked.

At 11.30am specialist divers took the plunge to investigate. They found that their mission had been a success, albeit a quiet one.

The bomb had been found after it was dislodged from the seabed during dredging works.

The harbour entrance is being deepened to accept the Royal Navy's new aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, next spring.

It is the second time that World War Two explosives have been found during the dredging operation.

A torpedo, discovered earlier this month, was also exploded at sea.

And in November last year the navy blew up a German mine with rather more spectacular results.