Staff and shoppers at B&Q in New Malden have been evacuated from the store following the discovery of what police believe is a World War II mortar on a nearby building site.
Residents living in houses close by have also been asked to leave their homes.
Kingston police tweeted that officers were working with colleagues from Merton to deal with the situation.
Officers from #Kingston and @MPSMerton currently dealing with the discovery of a believed WWII mortar near B&Q #NewMalden.
— Kingston MPS (@MPSKingston) February 20, 2015
Officers on scene dealing with discovery of WWII mortar nr B&Q #NewMalden - road closures in place. B&Q closed! pic.twitter.com/m9lisL7ARY
— Kingston MPS (@MPSKingston) February 20, 2015
Just after 2.30pm, Kingston police tweeted a picture of the "trouble maker":
This is the little trouble maker causing all the problems in #NewMalden at the moment. Police & @LondonFire on scene. pic.twitter.com/LP6oe6QFiB
— Kingston MPS (@MPSKingston) February 20, 2015
Burlington Road was closed from the Fountain roundabout to Shannon Corner while police and firecrews removed the bomb.
The road reopened just before 2.45pm.
The discovery of unexploded World War II weapons is not uncommon in Kingston.
The borough was heavily shelled by the Germans during the conflict, with grenades, bombs and missiles often being uncovered in unexpected places.
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