Feilding evacuated after bomb leak

An acid leak from an old army bomb shell has caused the evacuation of part of the Manawatu town of Feilding awaiting the arrival of army bomb experts this evening.

An engineering shop called police when they found liquid leaking from the shell after an unsuccessful attempt to dismantle the shell, a police spokesman said.

People occupying buildings in the immediate surrounding area had been evacuated but because the shell was in an industrial area few were evacuated, he said

Bomb experts from Trentham Army base in Upper Hutt had been called to inspect the shell and were expected to make it to Feilding by 7pm, police said.

It would probably take them less than hour to give the all clear, the spokesman said.

- NZPA