A bomb-disposal team have worked through the night to defuse a device found on a London construction site, which had prompted evacuations and school closures.

The device, weighing 500lb, was found by builders working on a development in Brondesbury Park, north-west London, late on Thursday morning. As a result, the Metropolitan police, London Fire Brigade and an army bomb-disposal team were scrambled to the scene, and a cordon was erected with homes being evacuated.

The team worked through the night and police said on Friday evening the bomb had been defused and was being removed from the site.

Efforts to remove the device had led to disruption on trains and bus services. London Overground was closed for part of the morning between Willesden Junction and Camden Road. Nearly 30 schools, nurseries, and parent and toddler groups were also affected on Friday, including 10 school closures.

Brent council’s emergency planning team set up a rest centre at St Martin’s church in Kensal Green on Thursday. British Red Cross volunteers were also drafted in to support affected locals.

The leader of Brent council, Muhammed Butt, said 78 residents had spent Thursday night in a hotel, while the Met said bad weather had delayed the removal of the bomb.

Avoid delays to your project

If you’re in charge of a project that involves groundworks, be it humanitarian, governmental or commercial, you need to consider the possibility of there being a buried UXO onsite.

With a 24-hour turnaround a Preliminary UXO Risk Assessment is the most cost-effective and fastest way of discounting UXO risks for your site. You can learn more about our UXO risk assessments here.

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