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Kings Hill Day Nursery and Preschool, Valley Invicta Primary School, Kings Hill School, Kings Hill Pre School and Kings Hill Community Centre closed due to wartime bomb

09:40, 27 September 2019

updated: 12:15, 27 September 2019

Here is everything you need to know about what is happening with a wartime bomb found yesterday.

Officers and a bomb disposal unit were called to Warwick Way, in Kings Hill, after a Second World War device was unearthed on a building site.

School evacuated after wartime bomb discovered

Multiple schools and business were evacuated while teams cordoned off the area from Gibson Drive between Kings Hill Avenue and Alexandra Grove.

The Second World War German SC50 Luftwaffe bomb was destroyed by controlled detonation at around 8.15am today.

Due to this, Kings Hill Day Nursery and Preschool, Valley Invicta Primary School, Kings Hill School, Kings Hill Pre School and Kings Hill Community Centre will be closed.

The head teacher of Kings Hill Primary School, in Crispin Way, Alice Early, sent a letter to parents yesterday.

Police have put a cordon in place in Kings Hill
Police have put a cordon in place in Kings Hill

It read: "As you are aware an unexploded Second World War bomb was discovered today close to Valley Invicta Primary School on Warwick Way.

"Our school was not in the cordoned off zone and we were advised by Kent Police and KCC that there was no danger to the school.

The bomb disposal team are at the scene. Credit: Jonathan Groves
The bomb disposal team are at the scene. Credit: Jonathan Groves

"We have been informed that the detonation is planned for tomorrow morning, and although we are currently still out of the cordoned zone and likely to remain so, it cannot be said for certain that the cordon won’t be extended to include our school.

She went on to say the detonation would be 'highly disruptive' and all the children would have to be picked up.

The letter continued: "We also recognise that whilst children would never be in danger, the experience could be unsettling for both children and their parents, particularly as we have not been informed of a definite time for the controlled explosion.

"We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause but the children’s safety and wellbeing is our utmost priority."

Valley Invicta Primary School confirmed on its website it will be closed today.

A Facebook post from Kings Hill Mums stated Kings Hill Day Nursery and Preschool will be closed.

A spokeswoman for the school said: " Like several other buildings in the area, we were instructed to evacuate the nursery yesterday while the emergency services attended to an incident. We were able to make arrangements to welcome our nursery children and staff at our sister nurseries nearby today, and we have kept families fully updated throughout.

"We are pleased to hear from the police today that the area is now safe and that we can re-open as usual Monday morning. At all times, the safety and wellbeing of our nursery children and of our staff is our highest priority."

The community centre reached out to visitors on social media to confirm it will not be open today.

Read more: all the latest news from Malling

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