A no-fly zone has been put in place in Great Yarmouth as the army begins the task of cutting into an unexploded Second World War bomb.
The 250kg device was found during dredging work in the River Yare by Bollard Quay in Southtown on Tuesday.
Work to build a blast barrier out of sand around the device was finished on Wednesday evening.
Once the army disposal specialists have safely cut into the bomb, they will carry out a controlled explosion, and if that is successful, the remainder of the device will be moved out to sea for another controlled explosion.
This process will continue into the early hours of Thursday morning.
READ MORE: 'Real risk' bomb in Great Yarmouth could detonate as army builds blast barrier
A 400-metre cordon remains in place at the scene.
The cordon has been split into two zones and now includes a strict 200-metre inner cordon where people are banned from entering and must leave.
Anyone living in the outer cordon has been advised to evacuate.
The cordons are set to remain in place until at least 11am on Thursday but people are being warned that this is a developing picture.
A no-fly zone has also been put in place in the immediate vicinity of the device until Thursday evening.
Superintendent Nathan Clarke of Norfolk Constabulary said: “This is a very delicate, complicated, and dynamic situation and we do not underestimate the impact this is having on people’s lives.
“This operation is now moving into the next phase. The police together will our partner agencies and the bomb disposal experts continue to work together to try to get this resolved as safely and as quickly as possible.”
As a result of the impact on the community, a major incident was declared on Tuesday night.
Rest centres remain open at St George’s Theatre in King Street or the Mesh, Shrublands Youth and Adult Centre, Magdalen Way, Gorleston.
Road closures are in place at Southtown Road, closed from its junction with Tollgate Road all the way to Beccles Road.
Litchfield Road, off Southtown Road, is partially closed, as well as Boundary Road, off Southtown Road.
Williams Adam Way, off Southtown Road, is closed, as well as Tollgate Road, off Southtown Road.
An emergency helpline for people who require assistance with evacuation from the exclusion zone is also still available. This helpline is 01493 330369 and should not be used for general advice.
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