A World War I torpedo was safely detonated in a controlled explosion off Roker Pier, Sunderland, on Thursday June 30.
Away from spectators but close enough to hear onshore, the explosion happened around 9am, with a second explosion heard around 10am- although there wasn’t much to see.
Locals came to see the event but many walked away disappointed, expecting a larger explosion than the small waterspout that was the only visible sign.
Robert Hunter said: “It was a bit of a damp squib, a small bang and a waterspout and not what you’d expect.’’
He was waiting from about quarter to nine and found out about the explosion from local news, this morning.
He has an interest in military and shipping and saw the naval vessel in the port yesterday and came down to see what it was all about.
Another local, Anthony Green, waited about half an hour to see the explosion, but said: “There was nothing to it, nothing happened” and described the experience as “a waste of time but it was nice to come out for the weather in the morning.”
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “At 2:53pm on Wednesday June 29 we received a report that an unexploded World War one torpedo had been found in wreckage in the sea just off Roker Pier.
“The navy attended, identified the device and will carry out a controlled explosion of the torpedo.”