A BOMB squad were called to the demolition of Erith’s Larner Road estate after two suspected bomb shells were found.

Work on the demolition of the high-rise estate was brought to a stop when workers excavating Japanese knotweed found the two shells in a strip of woodland below a cliff.

Regeneration project manager at Orbit Homes, Caroline Field, told News Shopper: “The area was evacuated while specialist contractors were called out to investigate.

“They were able to tell us they were exhibition bombs, which are dummies.

“We’d have liked to have kept them as souvenirs but, legally, they had to be taken away to be destroyed in case they caused havoc at some future date.”

Ms Field added: “We’d love to hear from any readers who know how dummy bombs could have ended up there.”

The discovery came as the redevelopment of the estate - which will be re-branded Erith Park following the £100 million project – reached the end of its first month.

High-rise excavators, affectionately referred to now as ‘giant munchers,’ have been busy demolishing Pretoria House, which now stands as a shadow of its former self.

Ms Field said: “Residents and passers-by have been transfixed by the giant munchers which resemble huge robotic dinosaurs.

“Work briefly stopped on Pretoria House on May 2 while we awaited the arrival of a longer-necked muncher to reach the far side of the building and we have started work on the next block along, Hamlet House.”

She added: “We constantly spray the demolition area with water to minimise dust.

“We have three dust monitoring stations around the site which show that our dust levels are not excessive and that there are no contaminants which might affect people’s health.”

The first new home is due to be ready early in 2015 and the whole 620-home project is expected to take five years to complete.