The cordon around a suspected unexploded bomb in Falmouth is expected to be widened so experts can deal with it.
Emergency services were called to Falmouth Docks at 09:15 BST on Monday after a suspected 250lb (115kg) American World War Two air-dropped device was found in the water. A 300m (984ft) exclusion zone is currently in place, and Cornwall Council said it was "expected to expand" to 1,400m (4593ft) on Wednesday, with the possible evacuation of up to 1,309 households.
Superintendent Ian Thompson from Devon and Cornwall Police said the expansion plans followed advice from military bomb disposal experts and was "essential so these specialists can proceed safely with the next stage of their work". The council said residents near Falmouth Docks will be advised that they may need to evacuate their homes, with the precise evacuation area and timings to be confirmed by police. It said it had prepared reception centres and would provide support for people who need help leaving their homes.
Thompson said: "If the cordon is extended and you live within this area, you are strongly urged to leave your home by 09:00 BST."
Devon and Cornwall Police said partner agencies "continue to assess the unexploded ordnance", stressing work was "ongoing to determine the safest and most appropriate course of action". Lt Cdr Ben Brown, commanding officer of the Royal Navy's Bravo Squadron bomb disposal team, added navy disposal experts were continuing to help police with the unexploded "air-dropped bomb". He said the team members were among "the most highly skilled and fearless personnel in the Royal Navy" were "ready to protect the public". "We find these things around the country all the time. It's what we train for. We do this day in, day out."
Brown said there was "a whole plethora of planning" ongoing at the scene, with various different options on the table, including a possible controlled explosion. He said "every scenario is unique" and the ordinance was on the "larger side" of what the team usually dealt with, but was not as big as the ones discovered in Plymouth earlier in the year.
Police thanked the public for "continued patience and cooperation" and said emergency teams were working to resolve the situation "as safely and as quickly as possible". The force said: "The results of ongoing military assessments will help determine as how they will go about disposing the device safely and plans are in place to prepare for all eventualities."
Three residential properties were evacuated on Monday as a precaution. Householders have been able to return home since, but the public has still been urged to stay away from restricted zones. Falmouth Coastguard's Tom Bolt said a member of the public who was diving came across the device and alerted the coastguard. "That basically informed us and we were able to let the MoD (Ministry of Defence) know and essentially they assessed the situation and confirmed it," he said.
Devon and Cornwall Police's Ch Supt Scott Bradley, who is leading the force through the operation on Tuesday, said emergency crews may still "have to displace some residents" as they continued work to make the area safe.
Falmouth WW2 Bomb Cordon Expected to Expand