Unexploded bombs found at Dunwich Heath after wildfire

The devices are believed to date back to Operation Kruschen during the Second World War, and were uncovered as a result of the fire damage.

While specialist teams have already made some discoveries safe, there could be more, and people are being urged to stay away from the site.

Emergency services remain at the scene of the wildfire at Dunwich Heath (Image: Humphrey Nemar/PA)

The National Trust, which manages the site, continues to urge the public to stay away.

Russell Clement, general manager for the National Trust, said: "Right now the best way people can help is by staying away from the reserve.

"We know how important Dunwich Heath is to the local community and visitors alike, but we need to ensure it is safe before anyone returns."

The major incident has been stood down at Dunwich Heath but fire crews remain at the scene (Image: Humphrey Nemar/PA)

Specialist teams have already dealt with some of the unexploded ordnance, but more could remain hidden.

Parts of the site are still inaccessible, and assessment and hazard mapping are expected to take several weeks.

The fire was stood down as a major incident on Monday, but crews remain on scene damping down the affected area and monitoring for hotspots.

Strong coastal winds have continued to stir up ash and debris, and the National Trust warned that burnt trees with damaged root systems could collapse without warning.

Further complications have been caused by smouldering rabbit warrens, unstable cliffs, and the risk of flare-ups due to ongoing dry, hot weather.

Parts of the landscape are now unrecognisable, making navigation dangerous and further increasing the risk to public safety.

People are being told to stay away from the heath, with further unexploded devices likely on the site (Image: Humphrey Nemar/PA)

While Dunwich village remains open, the National Trust has encouraged visitors to support local businesses.

The charity has also launched a fundraising appeal to help with recovery efforts at Dunwich Heath, raising more than £600,000 so far.

The reserve will remain closed until it is declared safe, with updates available on the National Trust’s website and social media channels.

What was Operation Kruschen?

Exercise Kruschen was a British military training exercise held between January and April 1943 on the Suffolk coast near Westleton Walks and Dunwich Heath. It was one of the first large-scale exercises designed to help plan the D-Day landings by testing ways to breach the German Atlantic Wall defences.

A mock German defensive position, nicknamed a “Hedgehog”, was built for the exercise. It included earthworks, minefields, barbed wire, concrete pillboxes, and anti-tank ditches constructed to closely resemble real German fortifications.

The exercise trialled specialised equipment and assault techniques that later proved important in Normandy. These included fascines (large wooden bundles dropped by tanks to bridge ditches), “Snake” explosive charges for clearing minefields and improved use of flamethrowers against bunkers.

Kruschen’s results fed into the wider D-Day training programme and informed the work of the 79th Armoured Division under Major-General Percy Hobart, which developed the engineering tanks and breaching equipment used on 6 June 1944. Remains of the training site, including ruined pillboxes and anti-tank ditches, can still be seen on Suffolk’s coast today.