 60 feet (20 metres) long, they were left over from 265, packed with a total of 2,400 lb of gelignite, planted in World War II to make the airfield unusable in the event of an enemy invasion.The subsequent removal, thought to be the largest of its kind in peacetime Britain, led to the evacuation of some 900 homes staggered over a five-week period.The district still retains a lively shopping centre, with a varied selection of independent shops and restaurants and is a popular destination for jet-skiers and kite surfers.