An unexploded Second World War bomb was discovered by builders in Haggerston, less than a mile from a school playground blast site.

Police closed Queensbridge Road at the junction with Albion Drive at about 1.20pm on Monday due to a “serious incident”, and Queensbridge Primary School – just yards away – was evacuated.

Head Sarah Bailey told the Gazette: “Some builders found a bomb so police shut off the Albion Drive. I had to get all the kids out – it’s a good job it was sunny!”

In February 1944, a school in Sigdon Road near Hackney Downs station was hit by a bomb, and later that year on June 18 80 people were killed in a blast near Chatsworth Road.