‘Unexploded bomb’ alert closes Orton Mere Lock

It is thought the device was found in the river by a ‘magnet fisher’ (someone who uses a magnet to search for metallic items under water.)

Emergency services, including the bomb disposal unit, were called to the scene at about 8.40pm.

Dennis Halfhide-Smith said: “I was just at the River Nene having walk with my grandad when a man was magnet fishing on the bridge near the lock, and he pulled a suspected bomb from the river.

“The police were all there about 8:45pm/9:00pm. The traffic light cross junction was shut down at about 9:40pm.”

A Cambridgeshire police spokesman said: “At 8.40pm yesterday (2 June) police were called to reports of a suspected unexploded bomb on Orton Mere, Orton Longueville. The road was closed for the safety of the public and the device was later removed by a bomb disposal unit. The cordon has since been lifted.”

Cambridgeshire police have not commented on what the device was.