Homes to be evacuated in Gourock to move unexploded mine Published duration 14 October 2015

image copyright Royal Navy image caption The mine was checked by the Royal Navy's Northern Diving Unit and it was decided to move it

An area of Gourock is to be evacuated on Thursday while experts move an unexploded mine which was found in the Firth of Clyde on Monday.

People will be moved out of part of the town near the swimming pool at 08:00 until early afternoon.

Other residents close by have been advised to open windows, stay indoors near brick walls and to avoid going into their cars or gardens.

The device is a British sea mine dating from either the 1940s or 1950s.

The evacuation will take place on Kempock Street, some properties within Albert Road and one property on Bath Street.

The wider safety advice has been issued to other residents within 500m of the device.

'Precautionary measure'

There will also be an exclusion zone at sea of about half a mile, and small boat owners have been asked not to sail during the operation.

A respite centre will be set up at Clydeview Academy for any affected evacuated residents who do not have alternative accommodation.

Ch Insp Elliot Brown, the local area commander for Inverclyde, said: "I must stress that this evacuation is a precautionary measure, and that there is no immediate danger posed to the community of Gourock.

"There will be a police cordon in place from 08:00 and a number of roads in and around the area will be closed or diverted."

State of deterioration

Lt Cdr Tim Castrinoyannakis, the officer in charge of the Royal Navy's Northern Diving Unit, said: "Due to the deterioration of the mine it is not possible to conclude how much explosive material it still contains.

"Therefore for the safety of the public we have decided to move it to a safer place and destroy it in situ."

Police Scotland said the public would be kept informed of any changes via social media and on Inverclyde Council and Police Scotland websites.