Builders digging a fence were stunned to unearth a live First World War bomb in Wembley.

The 18-inch projectile, identified as an artillery shell head with the detonator still attached, was found at 9.40am on Monday at Corsham House, a 36-flat sheltered housing scheme in Victoria Court run by Network Stadium Housing Association where a block of 40 extra care flats is being constructed along with landscaped gardens and allotments.

Brent Police officers attended and cordoned off the area.

While this was a genuine bomb, Hillingdon Police dealt with a suspicious package was found in Uxbridge at the start of December and officers in Hammersmith discovered a suspicious package was actually rubbish.

The Metropolitan Police’s specialist Explosive Ordnance Disposal team were called out to remove the bomb from the site.

The cordon was lifted at approximately 10.30am.

A spokesman for Network Stadium Housing Association said: "Contractors digging the fence discovered the bomb early Monday morning by the allotments.

"The police were called and the bomb squad arrived on site, who disposed of the bomb safely but quickly.

"The police gave the all clear at 10.35am.

"All workers on site were held in the canteen until the all clear was given."

A spokeswoman for Bouygues UK said: "On Monday morning, while we were carrying out routine work on site, a member of staff discovered what appeared to be an explosive device.

"We have strict health and safety protocols in place for all of our sites and in line with this we stopped all work and contacted the police immediately.

"The police in turn alerted the bomb squad and they arrived promptly on site.

"They confirmed that the device was a bomb from the First World War.

"They took all necessary precautions; removed the device quickly and safely from the site and gave the all-clear to resume work at 10:35am.”

● Were you there? Send your pictures and comments to: ian.proctor@trinitymirror.com