A number of homes in the Rivenwood area, some completed and others still under construction, are set to be evacuated after a suspected World War Two bomb was uncovered at a building

site in Newtownards.

Local Councillor Pete Wray reported that approximately 450 households would be affected by the discovery made on Friday at the Rivenwood housing development on Movilla Road. A notice seen by the BBC advises that homes and businesses within a 400-meter (0.25 miles) radius of the "sizeable" munition must be evacuated by 10:00 BST on Sunday.

The notice also indicates that the operation to address the bomb could take "five or more days to complete."

An emergency notice is being distributed to residents, titled: "Emergency notice to homeowners/occupiers." It details the evacuation plan, and the Ards Blair Mayne leisure center has been designated as an "emergency support center" for those affected. The center will be open starting from 09:00 BST.

Ulster Unionist Councillor Pete Wray described the situation as "a very complex and unusual occurrence," noting that this is only the second incident of this scale in the UK. He referenced a similar event earlier this year in Plymouth, where a 500kg (1,102lb) German World War Two bomb led to the evacuation of thousands.

Significant Disruption Expected

The police have advised the public to avoid the Movilla Road area and promised to provide updates as the situation unfolds.

Superintendent Johnston McDowell acknowledged the "significant disruption" the evacuation would cause but emphasized that the safety of residents and the community is the top priority.

This incident follows similar discoveries earlier in the year. In February, a World War Two shell was found in County Londonderry and safely destroyed by ammunition technical officers through a controlled explosion. In January, another unexploded wartime device was also neutralized by controlled explosion in County Armagh, after being found in Woodlawn Heights, Richhill. Photo by Flightsoffancy at English Wikipedia.