An unexploded 500 Pound World War II Bomb has been discovered in east London.

Dozens of families spent the night in a school hall in east London as bomb disposal experts worked to defuse the device which is believed to have been dropped over London during German bombing raids in the early 1940s but did not detonate.

The bomb was discovered by builders in a basement in Temple Street, Bethnal Green, just before lunchtime on Monday.

An Army spokesman said the device had been “potentially more dangerous today than the day it was made”.

Mayor of Tower Hamlets, John Biggs said: “I am pleased to announce that residents can return home as the unexploded bomb has been safely removed and defused. Many thanks to the emergency services who worked tirelessly with us to make the area safe as soon as possible.”

The 250kg bomb lay undisturbed deep in the ground for 70 years.

After it was found by contractors at a building site, a police hazard zone was introduced followed by the initial evacuation of 150 people.

The Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal commander from 11 EOD Royal Logistic Corps, in charge of the operation, said: “I can confirm that the device is a German WW2 air delivered bomb weighing 250kg which if detonated could cause mass destruction.

“The bomb has been in the ground for more than 70 years but unlike a fine wine does not improve with age. It is potentially more dangerous today than the day it was made.”

He said the bomb was located in the cellar of a three-storey building which had “severely restricted access”.

London Fire Brigade station manager, Matt Burrows, who was at the scene, said: “Our urban search and rescue crews provided equipment and assistance to Army bomb disposal crews who worked carefully to remove the bomb from the basement.

“A great deal of work was being carried out by firefighters, army, police and local authorities to safely remove and defuse this bomb. We’d to thank local residents for their patience.”

Ministry of Defence (MoD) experts arrived at Temple Street, Bethnal Green, at around 5pm on Monday.

Personnel from 621 Squadron, 11 EOD Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps, worked through the night to stabilise the bomb.

Earlier this year the squadron defused similar historic bombs in Bermondsey and Wembley.

A 200-metre exclusion zone was put in place overnight and the council set up a rest centre at Bethnal Green Academy for evacuated residents who were supplied with a bed, food, drink, blankets and wash bags.

The Metropolitan Police said all road closures and cordons have been lifted.

Agencies/Canadajournal