The bomb squad was called after a police dog found a suspected piece of "Second World War ordnance" near Gatwick Airport this morning.

Units attended the scene in Charlwood Road, Crawley, at about 6am.

Witnesses reported seeing armed police at the scene and said that part of the road had been taped off.

A Sussex Police spokesman told The Argus that officers based at Gatwick were armed, but it was not a firearms incident.

The force had been called to reports of a "small device" which was "possibly a piece of Second World War ordnance", he said.

"The EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) was called and attended the scene to assess the situation.

"It has been confirmed that the item was not a live explosive."

Most units had left the scene by 7.30am.

In an update issued shortly before 8.30am, a Sussex Police spokeswoman said: "While on patrol, a Police Dog Unit identified a suspected mortar near a car park at Gatwick Airport shortly after 3.30am on Thursday.

"A 100m cordon was put in place as a safety precaution while Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) attended the scene.

"EOD carried out an x-ray of the device and it was found not to be live.

"EOD removed the device and the cordon has since been lifted."