A road was closed off after an unexploded bomb was found on the site of a controversial development.

Crews working on the 'Ashford Shard' spot in Beaver Road were evacuated following the discovery.

The road was blocked in both directions while the bomb squad was called to the scene.

Although the 16-storey development is yet to be approved, contractors have been working on the ex-HomePlus site for months.

They demolished the former homeware store over the summer and were on the land today when the discovery was made at 1.40pm.

Earlier this afternoon, a witness said: "Police have set a cordon up and aren't letting any traffic through to avoid too many vibrations near the device, whatever it is.

"If it is a live bomb, it's quite lucky because they've been drilling and excavating all around it and haven't set it off."

The bomb has been confirmed to be a Second World War device, which is thankfully burnt out, meaning it is no longer live.

The device will be removed, and the road has now reopened in the meantime.

A police spokesman said: "We attended a report of a suspected wartime munition found during excavations in Beaver Road, Ashford.

"Officers were called to the scene at 1.40pm today.

"A cordon was set up around the area as a precaution and the EOD [explosive ordnance disposal] were made aware."

Although not officially called the ‘Ashford Shard’, On Architecture director David Weir described the scheme last year as “not quite The Shard, but Ashford’s version of it”.

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