Villages evacuated after bomb found on farmland

Two villages have been evacuated after a Second World War bomb was found in farmland in North Yorkshire.

About 1000 people were told to leave their homes in Ebberston and Allerston on Tuesday (18 August) while a controlled explosion was carried out on the 500lb device.

The bomb was found by enthusiasts who were excavating the crash site of a 1940s plane six miles east of Pickering on Sunday (16 August).

Initially it was thought to be a 250lb bomb but was later identified by the Royal Air Force to be 500lbs.

A 1.6km cordon was put into place while an RAF Explosives Ordnance team carried out the explosion.