Bomb disposal unit descends on Small Heath house in Birmingham

West Midlands Police and a Royal Logistic Corps unit are on site in Dora Road, Small Heath, this afternoon allegedly in search of WW1 bombs.

West Midlands Police and Army bomb disposal vans are at a property in Dora Road as officers allegedly search for WW1 bombs.

The builders who were carrying our renovation work at the property allegedly discovered the bombs in the basement of the house and police were immediately contacted.

West Midlands Police and the Army Logistic Corps units quickly arrived at the scene.

Police officers secured the exterior of the property as the army personnel investigated and searched the property at the top end of Dora Road close to Coventry Road and Small Heath Park.

A local resident spoke to I Am Birmingham:

“Nine bombs were discovered in the basement of the property by the Royal Logistic Corps.

“The bomb disposal team were inside the house for quite some time and just took the bombs away.

“An army officer said these bombs were taken from the old Armoury Depot and stored in the basement of the house for years and later forgotten.”

For a number of hours this afternoon, as officers worked to make the area safe, a section of Dora Road was sealed off to pedestrians and traffic.

This caused some disruption and traffic congestion along Coventry Road where it meets Dora Road.

The cordon has now been lifted and people have been allowed access to the street again.

This is a breaking story and will be updated as more details emerge.