Update: World War Two ordnance found in Letchworth garden bring town centre to halt as specialist police team safely remove device

A normally busy area of Letchworth town centre was cordoned off this morning, Friday (November 10), while a specialist ordnance disposal police team attended an incident.

Bird's Hill, where the device was found by a gardener digging in a house near to the back of Country Properties estate agents, was closed to motorists and residents.

Station Road, near to the roundabout connecting to North Way North and Norton Way South, were also closed off to pedestrians and traffic, while police investigated.

Nub News contacted Hertfordshire Constabulary who told us: "Police were called at 1015am today (Friday 10 November) to report the discovery of suspicious device having been found in a garden on Birds Hill, Letchworth Garden City.

"Officers attended and a cordon and road closures were put in place as a safety precaution while Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Specialists were contacted and then attended.

"The EOD inspected the object, confirmed the device was not active and have safely removed it.

"The cordon and road closures were then lifted at around 1240pm."

The southern end of the normally busy Station Road houses McColl's convenience store as well USA Chicken, with Country Properties estate agents on the other side of the roundabout on Howard Park Corner - with many businesses having to evacuate as a precaution while police and specialist teams investigated.

Letchworth Nub News spoke to a source in Letchworth town centre who told us: "A gardner working at the back of Country Properties found what they thought to be a mortar shell from World Ward Two.

"Police then evacuated the area including businesses."

Another source told us: "A gardener walked into Country Properties saying he had found ordnance - and that it was best if everyone left for their own safety."

Nub News has spoken to the gardner in question. See our website and Letchworth Nub News Facebook page shortly for his story.

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