According to reports, several workers found the explosive devices while working on Scotts Park playground in Wooler, a town in Northumberland, England. The first bomb discovered still had a charge when discovered, but fortunately, it did not detonate. So far, 176 bombs have been recovered in the area, and excavators working in the area are expected to find many more. The first bombs were found on Jan. 23 during a park survey. 

“On the first day of works, a further 65 10lb practice bombs were recovered in an area less than 1m sq with smoke cartridges also being recovered from the same pit,” read a press release. “Whilst this ordnance is described as practice bombs, they do still carry a charge and, given the numbers involved, need to be recovered by professionals to satisfy all concerned that the playpark area is once again safe for contractors and ultimately users of the equipment. (As these have been found with their fuse and contents still intact – and the detonator burster and smoke filling in particular can still be potentially hazardous).”

Local authorities contacted Brimstone Site Investigations for further bomb retrieval and disposal efforts, the release noted. 

“Our main concern is to make the site completely safe and to restart the installation of the fully inclusive playground as soon as practical,” said Kerren Rodgers, a spokesperson for the local Parish Council.

Local councilor Mark Mather expressed surprise at the discovery and theorized as to why nearly 200 bombs from World War II were under a children’s park. 

“I never thought as a parish councilor I’d be dealing with bomb disposal,” he said. “It’s quite something to think the children have been playing on bombs, and it’s been a really challenging situation. We’ve only cleared about a third of all the park, and we could still find another pit with more bombs in [it].”

Mather believed the bombs were stored in the park area after being used as a training ground for military officers during the war. Afterward, the explosive devices were apparently forgotten about.

“After the war, it looked like they just buried all the ordnance in one of the pits,” the councilor said.