WWII bomb 'exclusion zone' widened as army experts try to dismantle half-tonne device

Hundreds more residents of a leafy north London suburb face being forced from their homes over the weekend as Army explosive experts prepare to disarm a 500lb Second World War bomb unearthed by builders.

An exclusion zone around the construction site in Queen’s Park, north-west London, is expected to be widened by an extra 300 metres today amid fears work to disable the dustbin-size device could take several days.

Around 50 residents in The Avenue, where detached properties sell for £2million, were told to leave their homes at 11.30am yesterday following the discovery.

Many spent the day in a council-run rest centre before being moved to a local Holiday Inn, where Domino’s pizzas were laid on.

They were briefly allowed back into the exclusion zone to collect clothes and emergency supplies.

Councillor Carol Shaw, for Brondesbury Park ward, said: “The construction firm have been told that it might not be clear for three days as a specific part is needed to safely detonate the bomb.

“It’s a major operation and it could be very dangerous, which is worrying.”

Dhiren Patel, a PhD student at Imperial College whose family was evacuated from Christchurch Avenue, told the Standard: “We’ve all been sent to the Holiday Inn. You can see many kids in their school uniforms at the reception here – it’s a strange scene.

“It’s pretty frightening to know we had a 500lb bomb a couple of doors away.”

The 26-year-old added: “We’ve been given a range of answers about when we can go back home, from tomorrow afternoon to ‘a few days’.”

The device was uncovered on a site being developed into 74 luxury flats by Regal Homes.

Moa Taylor Hodin, 22, who lives in a block of flats backing onto the site, said: “The police knocked on the door and told my boyfriend he had to evacuate. He’s a musician so he just grabbed his guitar for his gig and left.”

The couple returned to the flat at 9pm to collect some belongings before going to stay with her boyfriend’s family nearby.

The charity worker added: “You don’t really want to stay somewhere that might blow up at any time.”

A spokesman for Regal Homes said: “Excavations on site at The Avenue, Queen’s Park, have unearthed an object of concern.

“The health and safety of our team and our neighbours is of course our primary consideration and Regal Homes is cooperating fully with the authorities who are investigating the situation.”

Superintendent Nigel Quantrell of Brent council, said: “We are working very hard resolve the situation. The public’s understanding and cooperation is deeply appreciated.”