TOWN CENTRE CORDONED OFF AS BOMB DISPOSAL SQUAD DEAL WITH THE UNEXPLODED DEVICE

POLICE EVACUATE NEARBY PROPERTIES AND ASK PEOPLE TO STAY AWAY FROM THE AREA WHILE EMERGENCY EXISTS

A WOMAN believed to have been cleaning out the garage of an elderly relative's property stumbled upon an unexploded World Word Two bomb and sparked a police evacuation of homes this afternoon.

Police cordoned off both ends of the town centre to traffic as Ministry of Defence experts were deployed to North Street.

Officers went on house-to-house enquiries in Denham Court as social media went into meltdown over what was happening inside the cordon.

The Atherstone and Coleshill Safer Neighbourhood Team said: "Please be aware to avoid central Atherstone due to unforeseen circumstances."

Later a spokeswoman for Warwickshire Police confirmed an unexploded WWII bomb had been discovered in a garage adjoining a property in North Street.

"We believe a lady was clearing out the garage at her relative's home when she found it," the spokeswoman told Nub News.

A 100-metre close cordon is now in place and will remain until the bomb disposal squad have finished the operation.

Lisa Simpson posted: "My parents have been evacuated, they live round the corner from the house."

Atherstone Garage owner Tony Wilby was returning from Market Bosworth to his Long Street business when he got caught up in the emergency.

When asked why he was remaining at work, he quipped: "It's been there a long time, another few hours aren't going to make any difference."