WORKERS discovered a Second World War rocket at the site of a planned nature reserve.

Contractors preparing a section of Wallasea Island, in the River Crouch, uncovered the V2 rocket. The weapon was used to devastating effect by the Germans during 1944 and 1945.

In a scene that could have come from Tony Robinson’s TV Time Team, volunteers from the RSPB were joined by an Essex County Council field archaeologist to dig out the relic from the saltmarsh. It will be added to the heritage centre planned for the island.

Volunteer Ian Moon said “When I began volunteering for the RSPB, I never expected to be asked to plan the recovery of a wartime rocket. The team is now looking forward to seeing the rocket’s motor used for local heritage and educational purposes.”

James Elderton, of HP Elderton and Sons, who provided the lifting machinery, said: “ It was an unusual operation for our driver, but a welcome change from our routine work.” The bomb dispoal squad was not needed.

Part of the island will be transformed into a nature reserve by the RSPB by using more than four million tonnes of material excavated during the digging of tunnels for London’s Crossrail project.

The material will be used to raise land, creating hills and dips into which seawater will ebb and flow. About 1,500 acres of tidal wildlife habitat will be created.

About eight miles of coastal walks and cycle paths will be provided on the island, currently mostly farmland.