UNEXPLODED BOMB FOUND AT ALLOTMENTS
AN allotment gardener in West Drayton was shocked to find an unexploded First World War bomb underground.
A house had to be evacuated when the bomb, which is more than a century old, was discovered at allotments in Rowlheys Place, near Harmondsworth Road, in the Hillingdon town on Friday April 17.
Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade were called to the scene just after noon to reports of the bomb, with the area getting cordoned off.
West Drayton Police tweeted that the bomb found dated back to the First World War, a result of the first sustained aerial bombing campaign in history, when Germany bombed London between 1914 and 1918.
Roads were reopened a short while later, once the bomb had been cleared from the scene.
The device was determined to have been safe, after laying dormant in the ground in West Drayton for more than a century.
West Drayton Police tweeted: “A resident found a WW1 artillery shell.
“That is why the roads around Rowlheys Place were closed for a short time. It has been cleared and roads reopened.
“Thank you to all our colleagues at Hillingdon police and Hillingdon firefighters and residents.”
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “On Friday April 17 at 12.05pm police were called to Harmondsworth Road, Hillingdon, to reports of an unexploded ordnance.
“Officers attended and cordoned off the area, with one property needing to be evacuated as a precaution.
“The device was deemed safe a short time later and removed. The residents were able to return to their property.
“No further action was required.”