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."