Workers on a building site had a brief scare this afternoon when they uncovered a World War Two bomb.

The detonated artillery shell was discovered on a site in Acre Lane near the junction with Strathleven Road, Brixton at about 1.50pm.

Police cordoned off nearby Plato Road and construction workers were ordered to leave the site while officers checked to see if the bomb was live.

Ali Kayani closed his neighbouring clothes shop while police investigated. He said: "I closed the shop and went over the road to a cafe. I walked back 20 minutes later and everything was fine. Nothing serious happened."

Meanwhile, Najam Khan, manager at the Stepping Stones nursery in Plato Road, brought children inside while the incident was going on.

She said the police had been "efficient", adding: "The police woman came to us after about half an hour and said we could take the children back into the garden."

A pub worker at the Grand Union opposite the scene, who did not want to be named, said she saw a police van and officers patrolling the scene. She said: "A few passersby were just wondering what was going on.

"I think [the site] just closed for the day."

A Metropolitan police spokesman said they were called to the scene at 1.50pm but the artillery shell had been deemed safe.

Do you know more? Leave a comment below, tweet @StreathamNews or email Rachel at: rblundy@london.newsquest.co.uk.