A temporary cordon was placed near Exmouth Marina yesterday evening following the discovery of a suspected unexploded ordnance, dredged out of the water earlier in the day.
Homes within the cordon were evacuated and affected residents encouraged to make arrangements with friends and family.
A temporary rest centre was set up at Exmouth Leisure Centre to provide support if needed.
Devon and Cornwall Police spoke to affected properties and road closures were put in place to prevent vehicles from entering the location until further notice.
Military bomb disposal experts were on the scene last night to assess the device and to identify the safest method of disposal.
Councillor Paul Arnott, Leader of East Devon District Council and Deputy Leader of Devon County Council said:
“Our teams are working closely with military specialists to ensure the device is made safe as quickly as possible, and we will provide updates as soon as we have them. We understand this is an unsettling situation for local residents, and we thank everyone for their patience and cooperation.”
Devon County Council teams have been supporting the incident.
Last night, Devon County Council and East Devon District Council found accommodation for the majority of residents temporarily evacuated from their homes to the Leisure East Devon rest centre, with transport provided to those individuals. Some chose to remain at the rest centre overnight.
Work will continue today, with activity to assess the safest method of disposal continuing as soon as possible this morning.
East Devon District Council has published Frequently Asked Questions containing useful information about the incident and the support available on their website.
We will also publish updates as we they become available.