School closed down after ‘mystery material’ found buried nearby

A school in Plymouth has been forced to close after two mysterious metal objects thought to be World War II ordnance were found in the ground beneath it.

Millbay Academy- known locally as the ‘Red School’- sits upon a patch of council-owned land which is currently being dug up ahead of a planned community home development.

But during the ground investigation works, two unidentified metal objects were found in the ground, prompting the council to close the school as a ‘precautionary measure’ while their origins are investigated.

The council has stressed that the objects could be any number of things, including reinforced concrete or pieces of track from the old railway station which was located nearby.

In a statement on Facebook, local MP Luke Pollard told followers the ordnance was ‘magnetic’ and said ‘after our experience of the Second World War bomb in Keyham, I know some people may be worried about what these objects could be. 

‘I have been working with the city council to make sure we have a thorough plan to investigate the site and keep people safe at every stage.’

He added: ‘experts including Brimstone UXO and colleagues from the military bomb disposal teams, will be carrying out an ‘uncovering’ to establish what the anomalies are. During this work there will be no need to evacuate or extend the existing cordon – currently limited to the site itself.’