A huge operation which saw both sides of a main road in Westerham closed last night has turned out to be over a metal spring.

The A223 at Grays Road was closed in both directions between the Spinning Wheel Pub and Westerham Hill for approximately two hours.

There were unconfirmed reports that an unexploded Second World War bomb was found in the area.

Kent Police confirmed it was called to an address in Main Road at 9.15pm to help officers from the Met, who were dealing with a report of a suspicious device.

A nearby resident said she was stopped by police, who had parked across the road, at around 9.30pm a little south of Westerham Riding stables and was told a device had been found.

A Met police spokesman said officers were called earlier in the evening to reports of the item in the garden of a property.

However, upon arrival the item was established as an old-fashioned spring, covered in dirt.

After reopening the road, police left the scene just after 10pm.

It comes just days after the bomb squad was despatched to Maidstone after a suspect package was found in a bus stop, which was later identified as a pack of four batteries.

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