An unexploded shell was found on a building site causing a widespread evacuation of businesses.

The device was discovered by a digger on the site of the new operations and maintenance building for the £2.5bn Anglia ONE offshore windfarm project in Lowestoft.

A spokesman for Suffolk Police said they were called about noon on Tuesday, September 25. A 100m cordon was put in place until a bomb disposal unit examined the shell and declared it was not viable and cleared it from the area by around 2.30pm.

Sarah Foote, deputy clerk at Lowestoft Town Council which is based in Hamilton House, next to the building site, said: 'My colleagues and I noticed a police presence on the building site adjacent to Hamilton House just before lunchtime.

'The building and car park were emptied very promptly and it looked like surrounding businesses were also evacuating. I know no more about what then happened on the building site but just after 3pm we were advised we could return to work.'