A number of homes had to be evacuated after an unexploded shell and gun parts were found in a removal container this afternoon.

Police were called to the incident at Copsey Removals in Crow Lane, Romford on Tuesday May 22 (today) at around 4.15pm.

The removal container is believed to have come into the site from South Africa last week and customs became suspicious when the owners insisted on packing it themselves instead of the removal firm.