Energy firm RWE has applied for two licences to investigate a vast area stretching out into the North Sea from Sea Palling and Mundesley.

Before construction work can begin, it must make sure vessels and equipment will not be endangered by the potentially volatile objects lying at the bottom of the sea.

The wind farms will be built off the Norfolk coast (Image: Vattenfall)

If approved, remotely operated vehicles will be used to scour about 40,000 metres of seabed in order to identify potential explosives, which are within a 50m buffer zone of the proposed wind turbines and cable routes.

Currently, 636 unexploded objects have been identified through a survey but more could be found during the investigation.

READ MORE: Fury after boat with 'explosive cargo' dumps load off Norfolk coast

There are then a range of options, including detonating the bombs and mines, routing cables around them or relocating them, if deemed safe to do so.

A map of the area that will be investigated (Image: RWE)

The expedition is........

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