Second World War bomb found in Kings Hill detonated
08:41, 27 September 2019
updated: 15:55, 27 September 2019
A device, believed to be a bomb from the Second World War, was detonated this morning.
The unearthed item was found on a building site in Warwick Way, Kings Hill, yesterday.
Bomb site where the controlled explosion took place
Kent Police confirmed a controlled detonation took place at around 8.15am. Kings Hill Avenue was closed while the explosion took place but has been reopened.
A cordon preventing cars and pedestrians travelling down Gibson Drive, between Kings Hill Avenue and Alexandra Grove, was in place while safety checks were completed.
There was heavy traffic on the A228.
The cordon has now been lifted.
A spokesman from the Ministry of Defence confirmed the device was a Second World War German SC50 Luftwaffe air dropped munition - a 50Kg bomb.
"It was initially dealt with by the Kent based 621 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron who were then joined by a specialist air dropped munitions team.
"The device was sufficiently isolated as to not pose a threat to any surrounding property therefore it was safer to destroy in situ rather than risk moving it."
Members of the bomb disposal team worked through the night to bring in 300 tonnes of sand to build an igloo over the bomb and blow it up.
Officers closed off roads within a 200m radius of the device yesterday and several schools and businesses were evacuated and remain closed this morning.
Pupils and staff from Invicta Valley Primary School congregated in the nearby Asda car park.
The supermarket also allowed children from Bright Horizons Nursery waiting to be collected by their parents to sit in the foyer of the shop.
The nursery was closed today but has confirmed it will reopen on Monday.
No homes were evacuated.
Offices in Churchill Square were evacuated at around half 10. Direct Line was among the companies affected, as well as Lucas Kennedy Ltd, Heaven Fashion and EH Optical.
Staff have begun to return to work in the previously cordoned off area.
In June this year another wartime bomb was found near Gibson Drive, Kings Hill, and a controlled explosion was conducted at the site.
The area was once home to a wartime airfield called RAF West Malling and suffered from German bombing in the Second World War.
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