TRAFFIC was diverted for two hours after the discovery of a wartime bomb on a building site near Melksham on Monday.

Fearing workers at the new Herman Miller factory had uncovered a live shell dating back to when the land off Portal Road was used as a First World War base, police cordoned off the entire area.

The A350 was closed from the Semington and Bowerhill roundabouts and traffic was diverted, while a bomb disposal unit travelled from Tidworth to the building site near the old running track behind the Christie Miller Sports Centre.

The three-foot long device was X-rayed by the bomb disposal unit who then discovered it was a 200lb shell which did not contain any explosives.

Police said the ground worker at the site “did not panic” when he found it.

Workmen from Collins Earthworks who are building the factory have been told that they are working on an old RAF site so old shells are likely to be lying underground, and there are even rumours there is a Spitfire buried there.

It is the second time this month a bomb disposal team has been called to the site to deal with old ordnance.

They removed Monday’s find, and told workers to call them out again if any more are found.

Wiltshire Police later said: “We were called at 2pm on Monday to reports from a member of public that a bomb had been discovered on a former RAF base in Melksham.

“Specialist bomb disposal experts were called in and the surrounding area was cordoned off as a matter of safety. However, on this occasion, it was found to be an empty World War One shell.

“We would however always urge members of the public to call us immediately if they discover any item that they believe to be suspicious and to leave the surrounding area as soon as possible.”