ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

A WW2 bomb found on a building site in Kingston has been detonated.

Thousands of residents were evacuated after the unexploded device was discovered in Fassett Road on Thursday at around 9am.

Kingston University and local schools were also evacuated while Scotland Yard called in experts from the Ministry of Defence.

Locals said on Friday afternoon that they had heard a "massive boom" near to the site.

One Twitter user said: "I think the bomb in Kingston just went off, scared the life out of me!"

Another tweeted: "#WW2 Bomb in #Kingston just detonated. From just beyond the exclusion zone a very loud blast and reverberations were felt. All the birds flew out the trees, followed by loud cheers and celebrations heard afterward! @RBKingston @MPSKingston"

Others reported hearing a "massive explosion like thunder" and a "hefty explosion." Many also said they felt the walls of their homes shake, with people claiming to have heard the noise as far away as Thames Ditton.

Police said the operation had "ended safely" and that "limited damage has been discovered with a 50 metre radius of the detonation."

South West BCU Commander, Chief Superintendent Sally Benatar, said: “I would like to thank all local residents and businesses owners who have been displaced by this inconvenience.

"The response from the local community and Kingston Council has been so understanding and we are grateful for your cooperation.

"The displacement was for your safety – which was our top priority throughout. The matter of detonating this device was taken with the utmost seriousness and I’d like to thank the Army and the other emergency services for their assistance and support.

“Whilst cordons and displacement remain in place at this time, we are working as quickly as possible to ensure that residents can return to their properties. We don’t have a timescale for this yet while the site is being structurally assessed.

“There may also be some ongoing disruption to utilities in the coming week, as a result of dealing with this incident. It is not possible to qualify the degree or extent at this stage.

“Anyone affected can call Kingston Council contact line on 020 8547 5800. This number will be monitored 24/7 over the bank holiday weekend.

“Updates will be provided via @MPSKingston as soon as they are available."

Cllr Liz Green, Leader of Kingston Council, added: "Our thanks go to the police, army and all other emergency services for dealing with this incident safely.

"Thanks also go to our fantastic local community, including businesses and the voluntary sector, who have come together and helped provide food and provisions to our residents during this time.

"We will continue to provide support to residents until such time as they're able to return home."

Councillor Jon Tolley added on Twitter: "A loud boom heard in central Kingston and further afield. Important to say this may or may not be the end. Experts are on site and they get to make the call once everything’s been checked. Please remain patient."

University students were unable to access their halls overnight, with students and staff told to leave the Penrhyn Road and Knights Park campuses “as a precaution”.

Kingston Council set up a rest centre at The Richard Mayo Centre on Eden Street for affected residents who were unable to return home.

Two polling stations were closed after the discovery at around 9am, St John the Evangelist church in Grove Lane and St Raphael's Catholic church in Portsmouth Road.