BBC Radio Cornwall

Residents have been telling BBC Radio Cornwall how the unexploded bomb has affected them.

Emergency services are walking round the cordon knocking on doors to check if people are still inside their properties.

Ron Dale says he left his home in the cordon area at about 11:00 BST, two hours after emergency services suggested people should leave.

"About half an hour ago, two police officers knocked on my door and suggested maybe I shouldn't be there and find somewhere else to go, so I'm on my way to stay with my son," he says.

"The officers were very friendly and polite."

He says he did not leave at 09:00 as he was "waiting for a knock on the door".

"I understood that was the way it was going to work out," Dale adds.

BBC Spotlight reporter Johnny Rutherford says coastguard crews are walking around Cliff Road in Falmouth and are out at sea as the operation to deal with the bomb continues.

James Dundon
BBC Radio Cornwall

As the operation to dispose of a World War Two bomb at Falmouth Docks continues, here's what we know so far.

Cornwall Council says emergency service teams are knocking on doors within the cordon area.

"Please follow instructions from emergency services and leave promptly if you are asked to do so," the council says.

A rest centre is open at All Saints’ Church, Killigrew Street, for anyone who needs somewhere to go. Pets are welcome.

Image source, Cornwall Council

In a post on her Facebook page, Jayne Kirkham - Labour MP for Truro and Falmouth - says: "The evacuation is going ahead.

"If you live around Castle Drive, Pendennis, Tredynas and are in the exclusion zone, please leave as soon as you can.

"The navy hope to be able to start making the device safe at 2pm, so we’re hoping everyone will be back home by this evening."

Image source, Jayne Kirkham/Facebook

"We will put the right information out, at the right time, as soon as we can," a councillor has promised.

Thalia Marrington said there would come a time when the evacuation was complete and the bomb disposal team would start work - but she doesn't know when that will be.

She said many elements would play the part in the unfolding events, including tides and weather.

The councillor responsible for community safety and public health, said it was "fantastic" to see emergency plans come together.

She thanked councillors and volunteers for knocking on doors and opening All Saints Church in Killigrew Street to evacuated residents.

"They are there to provide reassurance, make people feel comfortable, help them understand what's going on and have a safe space to go to," she said.

Supt Ian Thompson, of Devon and Cornwall Police, says while the advice is for people living in the cordoned off area to leave their homes, they cannot be forced to evacuate their properties.

He adds: "But if people are unable to leave through medical reasons or because they have other responsibilities at home, I ask that you do please let us know so we know that people are remaining at their homes."

The St Mawes Ferry, which carries passengers from St Mawes on Cornwall's Roseland Peninsula to Falmouth, is operating as normal today.

A post on the ferry service's Facebook page adds: "The exclusion zone around Falmouth Docks has been reduced to 755m meaning all services can operate as normal."

Meanwhile, people planning to use bus services in Falmouth today have been urged to check before travelling.

Transport for Cornwall says the operation involving the bomb means there might be some disruption to services in the town.

It says passengers can find out more details on its website, external.

National Rail says passengers who want to head to Falmouth Docks can use their train tickets on the following bus services in the town - 14, 18, 32, 32A, 33, 33A, 36, 36A, 60, 67 and 87

"These services may also be disrupted as local road closures are in place," National Rail adds.

As residents from the evacuation zone arrive at All Saints Church in Killigrew Street for refreshments, some of them have been speaking to BBC Radio Cornwall.

Barbara Ramsay said she didn't think there had been enough communication about the incident.

"It's still confusing, we don't know what's happening at all," she said.

She said no-one had knocked on her door to tell her to leave and she was worried about one of her neighbours.

"There's one old girl sat up there and I don't even know if she can get a taxi because they do all the school runs," Barbara explained.

Maureen Gill, 89, said she didn't know the cordon was for a bomb and thought the road she's lived on for 32 years had been closed for roadworks.

When she listened to the radio and found it was because of an unexploded bomb she went and spoke to the team keeping watch over the road closure.

"I can't say I was hugely panicked but I was really nosey and wanted to know what was going on," she said.

Another Falmouth resident Alex Campbell, 32, also wished more information was available.

"You hear there's a bomb and it's quite scary," she said.

"A little more transparency about the situation would be helpful in terms of navigating it and actually what to do.

"It's quite dystopian but hopefully nothing to be worried about," she added.

George Thorpe
South West

Cornwall Council says waste collections due today for residents living inside the cordoned area have already taken place.

"If any collections have been missed please report it via the council's website, external," it adds.

Ali Miller works at Pendennis, a superyacht shipyard in the dock area.

He said he'd noticed the coastguard and police going up to Middle Point on Monday.

The initial exclusion zone had allowed work at the yard to continue but by Tuesday the zone had been expanded to include the site.

He said: "Me and my colleagues had been told to stay away from work until the operation is complete."

He said their cars had been in the cordon area since Monday so he's been cycling around town, instead.

Bryony Mirfin evacuated her home this morning and is on her way to work at the university, which has stayed open.

She said the emergency services and the council had managed the situation well.

"They're waiting for the information themselves, they've done as well as they could under the circumstances."

Have you been affected?

Are you currently out of your home? Are you a business in the area?

Get in touch. We would love to hear from you.

Volunteers at All Saints Church in Killigrew Street have set up their refreshments table ready to help anyone who visits them today.

The team has a variety of biscuits on offer along with team, coffee and squash to drink.

Anyone who fancies a banana is in luck as well.

About 2,000 people evacuated from their homes could visit the church while the bomb disposal operation takes place.

About 339 homes are within the 755m (2,480ft) cordon.

Cornwall Council says the operation to remove the unexploded bomb is ongoing in Falmouth.

People living in a 755m (2,480ft) cordon were asked to leave their homes by 09:00 BST.

The council says emergency services, council staff and volunteers are currently knocking on doors and helping residents still in their properties to leave.

A temporary reception area has been set up at All Saints Church on Killigrew Street for people to evacuate to.

Neil Caddy
BBC Radio Cornwall Breakfast presenter

It's moments like this that BBC local radio really comes into its own, serving our audience in moments of crisis.

At Breakfast on BBC Radio Cornwall we were able to tell people in Falmouth exactly what the plan was to tackle the unexploded bomb, just as they woke up to start the day, including the practical stuff like road closures and the impact on the trains.

With our reporters on the ground in Falmouth, including in the church designated as an evacuation centre, we heard live from the local ward councillor and the rector, there to reassure and support the vulnerable.

We also heard expert analysis from the head of the Royal Navy bomb disposal squad about the challenge they face.

We are BBC Radio Cornwall - this is what we do.

MP for Truro and Falmouth Jayne Kirkham said the bomb disposal team was expected to move the ordnance this afternoon.

She said the Royal Navy team was doing "an amazing job".

"They've said they are moving it [the bomb[ this afternoon, so we just need to leave them to get on with it and make sure we've moved everyone out of the way," she said.

Kirkham lives in the exclusion zone and encouraged neighbours to go to the evacuation centre at All Saints Church in Killigrew Street.

She said transport was being arranged for vulnerable residents.

"Falmouth is a massive community and people always pull together," she added.

Train operator Great Western Railway (GWR) is warning passengers to check before they travel after it suspended services earlier between Falmouth Town and Falmouth Docks as experts deal with the World War Two bomb found in the water on Monday.

"Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled," it says.

"Disruption is expected until 04:15."

National Rail says from 09:00, trains will only be running between Truro and Falmouth Town.