Town centre street reopens after WW2 shell found

Residents in Cheltenham are being allowed back into their properties after a suspected World War Two shell was found.

Albion Street was closed at about 06:00 GMT following a report ammunition had been discovered by a member of the public.

Homes were evacuated and businesses were forced to close while the bomb squad examined the item, which was confirmed to be a World War Two-era tank shell.

At about 15:30 GMT, Gloucestershire Police reopened the road and reduced the cordon to cover one car.

"We'd like to thank everyone for their patience," a spokesperson for the Cheltenham Neighbourhood Policing team said.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said that its Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team based at Ashchurch had been called at the request of the police.

The team conducted a controlled of a 75mm high explosive round, commonly fired by tanks and artillery, in a secure location, the spokespersons said.

World of Fabrics and Jay Tee Mobile Phone Repairs, in Albion Street, were among businesses forced to close.

In a post on Facebook, World of Fabrics said: "We're really sorry for the inconvenience and can't wait to welcome you back as soon as possible.

"Hopefully, we'll be open again soon so you can enjoy browsing and shopping with us."

Similarly, Jay Tee Mobile Phone Repairs apologised to its customers and said it was "prioritising everyone's safety".

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