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Ten years ago today, an unexpected discovery during a police training session led to hundreds of people being evacuated from their homes, ahead of a World War II bomb being detonated.
The Bluebell Woods bomb had lain undetected for 69 years since it was dropped during the German Occupation of Guernsey.
Pictured: The above images were taken by Guernsey Police in 2013 when officers chanced upon the long-dormant WWII mine during a training exercise.
On Wednesday 14 August 2013, members of the Guernsey Police Bomb Disposal Team were on a training exercise in the vicinity of the popular beauty spot when their training turned into a real life exercise.
The Bomb Disposal Team had been on a 'locator training exercise' when they found the mine.
The 900lb explosive device was lying in a trench within the Bluebell Woods, and was reported at the time to have likely been dropped by the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1944. It was identified in media reports of the time, and the Guernsey Police 2013 Annual Report as being a 'Mk 1 ground mine' which is an 'underwater naval type' bomb that 'produces a strong high-explosive overpressure'. The steel casing around the explosives inside can also 'contribute some shrapnel effect'.
Pictured: The Liberation of Guernsey in May 1945 (File image). There have been numerous bombs discovered in the years since.
The Channel Islands were occupied between June 1940 and May 1945, with a number of explosive devices being dropped on the islands prior to and during that time, with many being found in the decades since the liberation.
The Bluebell Woods bomb was thought to have been one of a series dropped during raids aimed at radar installations operated by the occupying German forces, ahead of the Normandy landings in June 1944.
While the discovery of this bomb in August 2013 was met with some excitement due to its size and historical significance, there were immediate concerns over whether it still posed an explosive risk.
The Royal Navy Bomb Disposal Team was called in and their experts confirmed it was active and would need to be detonated in controlled circumstances.
A cordon around the immediate bomb site was extended to 300m around and vertically, with homes evacuated and flight paths disrupted during the days following the discovery of the bomb, until it could be relocated and detonated safely.
Pictured: The Guernsey Police annual report of 2013 detailed the discovery and detonation of the WWII mine.
The Guernsey Police annual report of 2013 reflected on the safe detonation of the 69-year-old bomb, describing the mine as being "in remarkably good condition and undamaged from its impact with the ground".
Between them, the Royal Navy and Guernsey Police bomb disposal teams worked out a plan to move it from that seven-decade resting place to enable its safe detonation.
Having been found on Wednesday 14 August, the detonation was scheduled to be carried out on Sunday 18 August 2013.
The mine would be brought up hill from Bluebell Woods and along the Fort Road towards Fermain Road. It was then to be taken back downhill to the bay and then taken out to sea.
An area known as the 'Grand Bank' was chosen for the detonation which would be controlled by the Royal Navy. Divers were to observe the mine settling on the sea bed, before placing a charge on it, before being detonated in a controlled explosion.
The planned detonation caused some disruption with the cordon around and above the bomb site extended until the Sunday night.
It was reported in local media that despite being advised to leave their homes while the bomb was moved from Bluebell Woods to Fermain Bay some nearby residents chose to stay put.
Those living nearest to the area which included Fort Road and Fermain Road were advised to leave their homes from 06:00 on Sunday 16 August 2013, while people living slightly further away but still within the vicinity were advised to evacuate from 08:00.
An evacuation centre was set up in St Martin's at the Professor Shaw Community Centre with volunteers from the Salvation Army serving refreshments to those waiting to return home.
Above: John Mapley captured the above video of the Bluebell Woods bomb being detonated.
The bomb was taken from its resting place of almost seven decades to Fermain Bay and then out to sea, where it was detonated by the Royal Navy.
The device was detonated in a controlled explosion just after 20:00 on Sunday 16 August.
The explosion was visible and audible from Guernsey, Sark, Herm and Jethou.
Pictured: A number of officers were recognised for their work in the safe discovery and detonation of the explosive device.
Terry Coule was the Guernsey Police Bomb Disposal Team lead at the time of the 2013 discovery.
He and others were honoured by the Chief of Police - then Patrick Rice - with a series of commendations.
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