Army works to defuse unexploded WWII bomb near Wembley Stadium

Homes have been evacuated as the Army works to defuse an unexploded World War II bomb discovered near Wembley Stadium.

The 50kg explosive, which is believed to have been dropped over London during Nazi bombing raids in the the early 1940s, was discovered by builders working near the stadium.

Bomb disposal experts discuss the best way to dispose of the device. Credit: British Army/Sgt Rupert Frere RLC

The British Army has warned of a "genuine risk to life" as homes and businesses, reportedly including the studio in which the ITV show Britain's Got Talent is filmed, were evacuated outside a 400-metre police cordon.

The Luftwaffe Sprengbombe-Cylindrisch bomb found at the site. Credit: British Army/Sgt Rupert Frere RLC

Royal Logistic Corps disposal teams from Northolt and Ashchurch excavated the Luftwaffe Sprengbombe-Cylindrisch bomb and Royal Engineers have built a blast wall around the site to limit any accidental explosion.

"The team is very well experienced. They've dealt with Improvised Explosive Devices in Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland which are much more complex than Second World War munitions," the Army spokesman added.

The bomb is located meters away from London's Wembley Stadium. Credit: British Army/Sgt Rupert Frere RLC

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the number of people evacuated "as a precaution" was "relatively small".

Back in March, a 550lb (250kg) bomb was discovered in Bermondsey, southeast London, before being taken to Kent to be destroyed once it had been defused.

The Army has warned of a 'genuine risk to life' after the bomb was found. Credit: British Army/Sgt Rupert Frere RLC