Police have evacuated homes and businesses following the discovery of “wartime explosives” in a garden today.
Roads are closed as police investigate the findings in central Canterbury, Kent.
Kent Police believe the items resemble “artillery shells”.
A spokesperson for the constabulary said: “Kent Police was called at 9.20am on Tuesday 29 November 2022, to a report that items which resembled artillery shells had been found in the garden of a residential property in St Peter’s Place, Canterbury. An MOD Explosive Ordnance Disposal team is attending. Police are also in attendance and have set up a cordon as a precaution.”
Witnesses had said “unexploded war ammunition” had been found, reports Kent Live.
Buses through the city center have been diverted as a result of the operation.
Inrix, the traffic and travel monitoring system, said: “A290 St Peter’s Place closed in both directions, delays due to police incident between Old Watling Street and Pound Lane.”
Photographs taken at the scene show heavy traffic and a large police presence.
Speaking at around 11am, Stagecoach, which operates bus services through Canterbury, said: “Due to some unexploded ordnance along St Peters Place, all services will be diverting via The Rheims Way and will not be able to serve St Dunstans, Westgate Towers for the next two to three hours.”
The emergency services have been contacted for further information on the work.
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