A POLICE cordon has been lifted after an unexploded Second World War bomb was removed from an industrial estate.

A cordon has been in place at the Penlake Industrial Estate on Reginald Road, Sutton Leach following the discovery of a suspected artillery shell at the premises at 9.40am this morning.

A Merseyside Police statement said: "All cordons have now been lifted and local residents are free to return home. Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this incident".

An earlier police statement had said a specialist Explosive Ordinance Disposal team had attended and confirmed the shell to be an unexploded WW2 bomb.

Reginald Road was closed from the junction at Leach Lane up to the junction at Helena Road.

Residents were evacuated from Reginald Road, Henlan Garden, Walter Grove and Meliden Gardens to a holding centre at Sutton Leisure Centre and have been told they are not allowed back into their houses once they have left.

St Helens Star:

Residents being evacuated

Residents had been told to prepare for an overnight stay elsewhere and that it "every precaution is being made".

One said: "It's just as well they've found it now, you hear of it all the time elsewhere but you don't expect it here."

One resident said they had spoken with someone from Wales who had a business appointment at the site and has been turned away.

Mum-of-one Ann-Marie Hilton said: "I got a phone call from Clock Face and they said 'have you been affected by a bomb?'

"I got my shoes on to check and when I looked I saw it's true.

"It's a mixed reaction because I can't help anyone. 

"It's even affecting Eliza Street, Francis Street and trains have stopped.

"It's a hell of a walk to the centre. I got a letter a couple of weeks ago saying the area that was a scrapyard is being made into houses but they've clearly found this".

A St Helens Council spokesman had said: "We can confirm residents are being evacuated from Reginald Road, and naturally the staff from the industrial estate too.

"A 400m cordon has been put in place by police."