A bomb hidden during the Second World War to fight the Nazis was unearthed by workmen and blown up.

Engineers digging a trench to lay power cables found the end of the 22ft pipe bomb at Ford aerodrome, near Arundel, yesterday.

During the war it would have been blown up if the enemy had invaded to make it harder for aircraft to land.

Army bomb disposal experts were called in and police set up a 500-metre exclusion zone.

Nearby industrial units and water board offices were evacuated and Ford Prison chiefs closed some buildings closest to the site.

The Essex-based Royal Engineers bomb squad, led by Captain Andy Clee, carried out controlled explosions to make the area safe last night.

He said: "We have dealt with a number of these pipe bombs over the years in the South East but as the years go by they are becoming rarer.

"This one was rather timely because of the Battle of Britain anniversary celebrations going on the moment."