Shoreditch High Street was evacuated during rush hour after reports a suspected unexploded bomb from the Second World War had been found.

Specialist officers were drafted in, homes and offices evacuated and roads cordoned off at the junction of the busy high street with Hackney Road, after police received an alert just after 8.30am.

But it turned out to be a false alarm.

A Met police spokesman said: “As a precaution a number of properties were evacuated while an assessment of the item was carried out.

“The item was found not to be suspicious and not an explosive device.”

Roads were reopened just before 9.30am.

Witnesses described seeing bomb squad trucks racing down the street and swarms of police officers.

Daniel Cuthbert tweeted: “When you see bomb squad trucks rushing to #shoreditch, you know something isn’t right.”

Andrew Dixon added: “Typical Shoreditch. No nice new shiny bomb for them, they have to have a hipster retro 1940s bomb.”