The device was found in the river by Victoria Embankment (Picture: PA)

An ‘unexploded WWII bomb’ has been found in the Thames, sparking rush hour chaos as the area is evacuated.

Waterloo and Westminster bridges were shut for around three hours, with Victoria Embankment still closed.

Is Blackpool exempt from the Lancashire lockdown?Office workers said they were not allowed to leave their buildings in Westminster as safety checks on the ‘bomb’ were carried out, with some restaurants and bars also cancelling business tonight.

Passengers leaving Westminster underground station were diverted to exits away from the cordon by a sign which said both bridges had been ‘closed at the request of the police’.




The usually-busy road stretching from Westminster to Embankment stations in central London is completely clear of traffic and pedestrians.

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A police launch passes a barge (Picture: PA)

Officers currently assisting at #Westminster station. Thank you for your patience. https://t.co/zCBU8jsujO — BTP Circle line (@BTPCircle) January 19, 2017

The cordon is marked off with police tape and manned by uniformed officers.

Tourists and passers-by calmly took photographs of the odd sight as uniformed police officers told them that specialists had been called in to deal with the device.

A spokesman for the Met Police said: ‘There are road closures in place in and around the area whilst the item is assessed.’

Police closed the bridge leading to the Houses of Parliament at around 5.15 pm (Picture: Getty)

A police officer directs a pedestrian around a cordon on Victoria Embankment (Picture: PA)

A police cordon on Victoria Embankment (Picture: PA)

According to police a device has been found in the river Thames and it's being investigated to see if a risk @PA #london @PA #westminster pic.twitter.com/M1tYCvDwbE — kirsty malcolm (@kirstymalcolm) January 19, 2017

The @Hispaniola is closed for tonight due to a bomb alert on the river Thames. We have had to cancel tonight's show on advice of police. — Funny Women (@funnywomen) January 19, 2017

There's hell on in London. River and both N&S banks closed between Westminster and Embankment due to unexploded WW2 bomb!!!

??? — Andy T (@adthorley) January 19, 2017

Westminster bridge and surrounding area shut off by police due to "unexploded bomb" being found underwater. Boat (in pic) trying to sort. pic.twitter.com/fwjh6z1SC3 — James Fielden (@James_Fielden) January 19, 2017

Westminster bridge closed as I was crossing it – World War II bomb dredged up. Quite surreal. pic.twitter.com/LwnYV3VLGN — John Kinson (@johnkinson) January 19, 2017