A gym, operating from a retail park, was forced to close after three wartime bombs were found in the car park.

PureGym shut its branch in Otford Road, Sevenoaks, last night (July 18) due to a “police incident”.

In a message to its members shortly before 6pm, the fitness chain said “Due to a police incident, our gym will be closed until further notice.

“Member comms will be sent out shortly via email, so please keep an eye out for this. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Passers-by reported seeing two police cars at the retail park, where there is also a Wickes home improvement store and a Carpetright, both of which were also closed.

One motorist told KentOnline: “I just saw one police car over the entrance with cones along it and one police car parked outside the Wickes store.

“No parked cars in the car park, it was empty.”

Police officers have since confirmed they were called to the area just before 3.30pm to reports three suspected Second World War ordnance devices had been found.

The force attended and assisted the bomb disposal team from the Ministry of Defence in evacuating nearby buildings while a cordon was put in place.

The items were removed and the cordon has since been lifted.

A spokesperson for PureGym said the branch has reopened by 9.30pm.