This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/dorset/6096468.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Alert as torpedo towed in by boat Alert as torpedo towed in by boat
(4 days later)
Weymouth harbour in Dorset had to be evacuated after a fishing boat towed in part of a World War II torpedo.Weymouth harbour in Dorset had to be evacuated after a fishing boat towed in part of a World War II torpedo.
Ferries were diverted to other ports and a 200m (656ft) exclusion zone was put up around Customs House Quay, where the device had been tied up.Ferries were diverted to other ports and a 200m (656ft) exclusion zone was put up around Customs House Quay, where the device had been tied up.
It was lifted several hours later when Dorset Police confirmed the device was the propellant end of a British torpedo and was "inert and innocuous".It was lifted several hours later when Dorset Police confirmed the device was the propellant end of a British torpedo and was "inert and innocuous".
The 15ft object was found five miles (8km) off Portland on Saturday morning.The 15ft object was found five miles (8km) off Portland on Saturday morning.
The coastguard described the device as "two-thirds of a torpedo", which would have contained the propellant and engine.The coastguard described the device as "two-thirds of a torpedo", which would have contained the propellant and engine.
Fisherman Edgar Moxom, 27, from Weymouth, who found it said he thought it was a wooden pier pile.Fisherman Edgar Moxom, 27, from Weymouth, who found it said he thought it was a wooden pier pile.
A fisherman found the device in the middle of a shipping laneA fisherman found the device in the middle of a shipping lane
It was only after he towed the object back to the harbour with his vessel Mojo that he discovered it was a military device.It was only after he towed the object back to the harbour with his vessel Mojo that he discovered it was a military device.
"My eyes rolled back in my head when I was told what it could be," he said."My eyes rolled back in my head when I was told what it could be," he said.
"It did not look anything like a mine or a bomb when it was floating in the water. I would not have towed it in if I had any idea it could be explosive."It did not look anything like a mine or a bomb when it was floating in the water. I would not have towed it in if I had any idea it could be explosive.
"We called the coastguard because we were worried one of the other dozen boats in the area could hit it."We called the coastguard because we were worried one of the other dozen boats in the area could hit it.
"The object was in the middle of a shipping lane used by ferries," added Mr Moxam."The object was in the middle of a shipping lane used by ferries," added Mr Moxam.