Builders working on Sky's new £233m building in Osterley got a nasty shock after uncovering what they thought was a World War II bomb.
A police explosives officer was called to the Harlequin Avenue construction site at 9am on Thursday March 26 after a Bovis builder uncovered an artillery shell whilst digging.
Dave Joyce, senior construction manager at Bovis Lend Lease, said: “Occasionally we do come across remnants from the war during excavation work.
“Whilst excavating the ground adjacent to an old railway siding for a Soak Away, which is linked to a rainwater tank overflow, we uncovered a suspected artillery shell.
“We have procedures in place that ensure the safety of everyone on site and the public should anything suspicious be found. This includes immediate evacuation and police contact.”
After inspection the police finally announced that the device was totally harmless at 10am and construction staff got back to work.
The new building is expected to open in 2011 to house the broadcast and sports production departments and is expected to be Europe's most environmentally friendly broadcasting facility.
