2,600 households evacuated after WWII bomb discovered in UK city

More than 2,600 households have been evacuated after an unexploded World War II bomb was discovered in Exeter in southwestern England, reported Xinhua, quoting local media on Saturday.

Officers were called to University of Exeter halls of residence on Friday morning and declared a major incident, the BBC reported.

University of Exeter said on Twitter that the device was discovered by "builders on private land" next to its Streatham campus.

"Work will continue today relating to the device which was found yesterday on private land at Glenthorne Road to the west of campus. From 9:00 a.m. this morning an expanded cordon will be in place. This is an additional measure to allow the authorities to undertake the necessary work," it said.

Bomb disposal experts started examining the device at about 10:00 GMT on Saturday to decide how to deal with it, said the BBC report. Hundreds of students were initially evacuated before 2,600 households are being told to move.

Exeter was heavily attacked by German bombers during World War II, according to the report.