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Bomb disposal squad at Warwick Way, Kings Hill after unexploded device discovered on building site

10:41, 05 May 2020

updated: 13:31, 05 May 2020

An Army Bomb Disposal team is on site at Warwick Way, Kings Hill after an unexploded device was discovered on a building site.

A 200 metre cordon was put in place last night after a Second World War bomb was unearthed, near Maidstone, at 4.30pm.

The bomb was found on a building site in Kings Hill
The bomb was found on a building site in Kings Hill

The Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team is constructing a cage around the bomb where it will be safely detonated. It's understood this will happen later this afternoon.

Kings Hill Avenue, Gibson Drive and Tower Drive in Kings Hill have been sealed off and are likely to remain closed until the controlled explosion is carried out.

The emergency information line says the unexploded device cannot be moved and needs to be made safe where it is.

This is the third wartime bomb to be unearthed at the building site since June last year. The first was found near Gibson Drive.

Another was found in September which led to the evacuation of Invicta Valley Primary School, Bright Horizons Kings Hill Day Nursery and Preschool and the Kings Hill Community Centre.

The Army's EOD team is waiting to carry out a controlled explosion
The Army's EOD team is waiting to carry out a controlled explosion

The land where the device has been uncovered is the site of a new residential development, owned by Clarion Housing Group and being built by Latimer Developments.

The company secured the site in April last year, with planning permission for 166 homes.

A Clarion Housing spokesman said: “The unexploded ordnance was found yesterday through our usual risk assessment measures when construction is undertaken on any recommissioned MoD property.

"Once identified, the police and the Royal Logistics Corps (Ordnance) were immediately notified and were quickly on site to assess the situation and make safe the device.”

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