VIDEO: Unexploded Second World War bomb found in Woodford Green

Oliver Leonard started work at a house in Monkham’s Lane, Woodford Green as normal on Tuesday, October 11.

But by midday, things had taken an unexpected turn - when he discovered an shell which had probably been dropped Nazis during the Second World War.

Recap the action by reading our live blog 

Mr Leonard, from Chingford, said: “We were digging the basement of a house in Monkham’s Lane when I saw something in the ground.

“I thought it didn’t look right and it had black all around it, so I called my boss, who called the site owners and the police.

“I wasn’t scared, but you certainly don’t expect that when you have your breakfast in the morning.”

Police officers were called to the scene just after midday, blocking off Monkham’s Lane at both ends, as well as Knighton Drive.

Confused bystanders waited anxiously as bomb disposal officers looked for the suspicious object.

Annabel Hobbs, who has lived in nearby Monkham’s Drive for 20 years, said: “We’ve never had anything as exciting as this happen.

“What a scary find.”

Read more: Leaflet handed out at mosque told worshipers to 'kill those who insult Islam'

Leigh Harris, who was working as a nanny in one of the houses blocked off by police tape, said she noticed something strange when police officers started walking passed.

The 24-year-old said: “You don’t get foot patrols much round here, so I thought something serious must have happened.”

After nearly three hours, police removed the cordons blocking Monkham’s Lane just before 3pm.

Speaking to the Guardian Series, the bomb disposal officer at the scene confirmed the suspicious object was a five inch field gun shell.

He said: “It has got markings on it, but they don’t like look military ones, because the stamps would have to be perfectly aligned.

“It looks like someone has had it as a collectors’ item, got bored with it, and then buried it in the garden.

“It’s a pretty big shell, but there aren’t any explosives inside.

“It’s going to be safely disposed of elsewhere, where it won’t cause any hassle in the future.”

Mr Leonard said he has “never come across anything like it before” and usually just finds “boring” items like clay bottles and lend drains.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police confirmed the bomb shell threat was “over and dealt with” by 3.20pm.