Pubgoers lapping up the May sun had to be evacuated from their watering hole this afternoon after an unexploded bomb was found in a nearby river.
Patrons at The King's Head in Hoveton, Norfolk, were forced out of the pub just after 3pm when the ordnance was discovered - with a huge emergency response arriving at the scene.
A police statement said: "Police were called to Station Road in Hoveton at 1.42pm today (Saturday 10 May) following the discovery of an unexploded ordnance device.
"The device was found by a member of the public while magnet fishing in the river off Station Road, near its junction with Norwich Road.
Norfolk Constabulary and the fire service remain at the scene, police said (file photo)
PA
"A 100m cordon is in place as a precaution, and Station Road in Hoveton is closed.
"Police and the fire service remain at the scene.
"The Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team from Colchester has been called and expected to arrive shortly."
It remains unclear how old the unexploded ordnance is - but there are thought to be thousands of WW2-era bombs still buried across Britain to this day.
Emergency services still deal with up to 20 callouts a year, according to a 2022 BBC report.
MORE UNEXPLODED BOMB SCARES:
- Seafront evacuated after unexploded bomb discovered as police urge public to avoid area
- RAF Scampton: Unexploded bombs and toxic gases pose risk to incoming migrants, letter warns
- 'Get out NOW!' Plymouth homeowners given ONE HOUR to evacuate as unexploded WWII bomb found in garden - 300 metre exclusion zone set for sea detonation
An Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team is rushing to the pub to deal with the bomb (file photo)
PA
Just last month, residents across south Essex heard a loud bang after bomb disposal experts detonated a Second World War German naval artillery shell on Canvey Island beach.
Coastguard teams initially attended the scene after being alerted by a metal detectorist.
A spokesman for the service said: "The metal detectorist did the right thing. He didn't disturb the item further, made his way to a safe distance and called 999 asking for the coastguard."
The unexploded ordnance was discovered by a metal detectorist on the mud flats off Canvey PointHM COASTGUARD CANVEY
It's not just Britain - in early March of this year, a WW2 bomb was found on railway tracks in Paris, sparking travel chaos and cancelling a day's slate of Eurostar trains.
French police then closed Paris Gare du Nord - one of the city's busiest train stations.
Pictures from the station showed snaking queues of passengers after thousands were left unable to reach their destinations.
