Residents in Plymouth are now able to return to their homes after an unexploded Second World War bomb, which prompted the evacuation of over 1,000 properties, was safely detonated in situ.
The device was discovered at a building site in Flamborough Road, Southway, on Wednesday, leading to a 400-metre cordon being established.
Military experts concluded the ordnance was too unstable to be moved, necessitating its controlled detonation on site.
Plymouth City Council confirmed on Friday afternoon that the operation, including subsequent safety inspections, was complete.
The authority stated that no significant damage had been identified in the surrounding area, including nearby buildings, allowing the cordon to be lifted and residents to return.
Councillor Sally Haydon, cabinet member for community safety at Plymouth City Council, said: “We know this has been a deeply distressing and inconvenient time for local residents and businesses, and we want to sincerely thank everyone for their patience, co-operation and understanding throughout this incident.
“Our heartfelt thanks go to the brave Army and Royal Navy unexploded ordnance specialists who have worked tirelessly over recent days.
“They quite literally put their lives on the line and it is thanks to their exceptional expertise, professionalism and care that this operation was brought to a safe conclusion.”
A small number of temporary road closures will remain in place immediately around the site while highways and cleansing teams carry out clean-up work, the council added.
There will also be restrictions around the building site itself, where the device was located, while the area continues to be made fully secure.
Colonel Nick Handy, from 8 Engineer Brigade, said: “We wanted to ensure the least damage was done and we did that today successfully.
“This is a thing that can’t be done in isolation with just military, we need our LRF community, and we need all the expertise that we bring to bear.
“There was no kick out and there was no damage. The blast went up and out, exactly what we wanted to do.”
Assistant Chief Constable Nikki Leaper, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said: “Safety was our priority, and we wanted it to be safe, we cannot get complacent.
“I am very aware that this is our third incident here in Plymouth, the second this year, and actually to work with all our partners is absolutely, it’s a team effort, and that has been absolutely great.
“It was about taking time to be safe, so people didn’t have damaged property.”
Some 1,500 people were evacuated after the German SC250 device was uncovered, she said.
Ms Leaper added: “Our efforts around the clock have been focused on allowing everybody to get back to their daily lives as quickly as possible.
“It has been 48 hours of significant demand that has seen a display of tremendous partnership working from all of those involved.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our partners, volunteers and to the police officers and staff who have worked tirelessly over the past few days.
“The safe removal of this ordnance showed exceptional bravery and skills from military bomb disposal experts.
“Staff from all agencies have played an important role in bringing this matter to a safe conclusion.”
There were more than 50 Luftwaffe air raids on Plymouth between 1941 and 1944, killing 1,174 civilians in the city.
The first bombs fell on the city on July 6 1940, with the heaviest period of bombing occurring in March and April 1941.
Two years ago, a 500kg German Second World War bomb was found in a garden in the Keyham area of Plymouth.
It forced the evacuation of thousands of people and was detonated at sea.
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