A landscaping boss was shocked to discover a three-foot wartime bomb in a garden.

Bobby Moulson told KentOnline how the “excitement” of finding the ordnance in Kirby Road, Dartford, soon turned to fear.

The 37-year-old, who runs Abfab Landscapes, and three other workers had just started installing a new fence at the end of their customer’s garden at 9.15am today when they saw a bit of metal poking out of the ground.

After digging around the object and comparing it to pictures of Second World War bombs online they realised they had a problem.

“We told the customer what we had found, she called the police and we all left the house straight away,” Bobby said.

“It was exciting to discover something like that as I have never seen anything like it.

“But it was scary to think about what might have happened if we had hit it with one of our shovels.

“We heard the police sirens and saw them set up the cordon, which was a minimum of 100 metres from the property. The army also showed up shortly after.

“We hung around for about an hour to see if it would be over quickly so we could get back on with the job but that didn’t happen so we went off to a cafe for breakfast.”

Officers cordoned off the road after being called at 9.20am and evacuating homes with Stone Pavilion being the designated evacuation centre.

Police issued an update at 4.35pm saying the bomb had been removed by the bomb squad. It added that residents were able to return home at around 4.15pm.

Kirby Road resident Jason Pettit, who was at the scene at the time, told KentOnline: “The road is currently shut from the junction of Hillhouse Road. Bomb disposal is currently in and out of the property.

“Police appear to have evacuated all the residents from Hillhouse Road junction to 143 Kirby Road. Police vehicles are coming and going.”

Dartford council posted on social media at the time of the evacuation that it was assisting emergency services and supporting affected residents.

Meanwhile, Dartford MP Jim Dickson urged residents to avoid the area while the incident is dealt with.

Posting on social media, he said: “Police and local emergency services are on site working quickly to evacuate residents in the immediate area and remove the device safely.

“I am in ongoing communication with emergency services and will update residents on any changes.

“Please avoid the area until further notice.

The find is just over a mile from the site of a commemorative plaque in Carrington Road.

A V1 flying rocket, also known as a Doodlebug, fell on the street on Sunday, August 6, 1944, killing 10 people and injuring 107.

It destroyed 20 homes and caused damage to a further 700 in the surrounding area.

The plaque was unveiled in 2015.

The Ministry of Defence has been approached for further information.