Controlled explosion carried out in Windsor for 'unexploded WW2 mortar'

A controlled explosion of a suspected unexploded Second World War mortar in Windsor took place today.

Thames Valley Police and the Royal Navy were on the scene.

The police force tweeted this morning to say the operation was pre-planned and there was 'no cause for alarm'.

Updates to follow.

UPDATE, 11.30AM:

Express reporter Paul Miles is at the scene in Windsor where the controlled explosion is set to take place. He has tweeted more details of the operation: 

@ExpressSeries Mortar will be fished from river, placed in a hole on riverbank along with 20 sandbags and detonated. pic.twitter.com/4tPSx05ffy

— Paul Miles (@p_miles1) October 3, 2014

@ExpressSeries Road closure expected soon and area cordoned off for explosion to take place. pic.twitter.com/f73K9BmL92

— Paul Miles (@p_miles1) October 3, 2014

UPDATE, 11.40AM:

Paul reports the road closure will affect King Edward VII Avenue, across the Victoria Bridge.

Express photographer Matthew Phillips is also at the scene.

A Royal Navy bomb disposal squad is trying to make safe a WW2 bomb in the Thames at Windsor. @ExpressSeries pic.twitter.com/G9HMuslB6Y

— Matthew Phillips (@PaperMattWriter) October 3, 2014

UPDATE, 11.45AM:

Paul says police divers found the mortar two weeks ago during a planned crime search of the river. He says a police diver has told him finds like this - especially mortars - are now very rare.

UPDATE, 12.07pm:

More from photographer Matthew Phillips:

The Royal Navy bomb squad are preparing to explode a WW2 bomb found in the Thames at Windsor. @ExpressSeries pic.twitter.com/Ufvx0zQaHv

— Matthew Phillips (@PaperMattWriter) October 3, 2014

UPDATE, 12.13pm:

@ExpressSeries device believed to be foot long, police not sure how long it has been there

— Paul Miles (@p_miles1) October 3, 2014

UPDATE, 12.15pm:

Road closures on King Edward VII Avenue are now in place while the device is lifting out of the water.

UPDATE, 12.26pm:

The bomb is being prepared for detonation:

@ExpressSeries Looks like the bomb is being placed in the hole at riverside.

— Paul Miles (@p_miles1) October 3, 2014

@ExpressSeries 200m clearence zone now in place. Site being cleared for detonation.

— Paul Miles (@p_miles1) October 3, 2014

UPDATE, 12.33pm:

@ExpressSeries Road closure lifted for ten minutes but still the windsor bus tour waits.

— Paul Miles (@p_miles1) October 3, 2014

UPDATE, 12.40pm:

@ExpressSeries The mortar has been detonated.

— Paul Miles (@p_miles1) October 3, 2014

UPDATE, 12.45pm:

@ExpressSeries Smoke rises 10 foot in the air as device detonated. All clear now.

— Paul Miles (@p_miles1) October 3, 2014

@ExpressSeries cordon lifted and it's business as usual again.

— Paul Miles (@p_miles1) October 3, 2014

UPDATE 3.01pm:

Thames Valley Police has sent us over some images of the controlled explosion:

3.09pm:

Thames Valley Police has confirmed that members of a TVP Specialist Search and Recovery Team and the Royal Navy Bomb disposal team arrived at the Victoria Bridge by King Edward VII  Avenue at around 8am.

It was safely and successfully detonated at 12.40pm.

PC Rupert Jones of the SSRT said: “This was a successful operation and we are very pleased with the outcome which caused minimal disruption to the public.”