WWII bomb found near French town

Some 10,000 people had to leave the centre of Lorient on France's Atlantic coast today after workers found an unexploded World…

Some 10,000 people had to leave the centre of Lorient on France's Atlantic coast today after workers found an unexploded World War Two bomb while digging a foundation for a new cultural centre.

Police blocked off a radius of 800 metres around the bomb early today and a special bus service evacuated all residents. Red Cross workers set up a temporary reception area and cafeteria in an exhibition hall farther away.

Experts were due to defuse the bomb later today.

Local officials said the 250 kilogramme bomb was probably British - one of many dropped on the city by Allied bombers when Lorient had the largest submarine base in German-occupied France.

READ MORE

The bomb, which disposal experts classified as very dangerous, was found about two kilometres from the submarine base, which survived the wartime attacks intact while the city was destroyed.