An unexploded wartime bomb was discovered by builders on a construction site yesterday.
Police were called to the scene in Broomstick Hall Road, Waltham Abbey, at around 3pm following reports of ground workers finding an anti-aircraft gun shell and pistol ammunition on a building site.
Officers immediately fitted a 100m cordon around the site while teams waited for the Military Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit to arrive on the scene.
The unit later removed the wartime explosives from the scene.
A suitable site away from Waltham Abbey was established by the team who carried out a controlled explosion of the bomb.
Officers do not know which war the bomb originated from.
An Essex Police Spokesman said: "We were contacted shortly after 3pm to reports of the explosives being found at a building site.
"The Military’s explosive unit were called and a 100 metre cordon was established.
"A suitable site was found and a controlled explosion was carried out.
"There was minimal disruption to local residents.
"The incident was dealt with by 7.30pm."
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