A BOMB disposal unit was seen racing into Southend on blue lights this evening after Southend Museum raised the alarm.
The unit, from the MOD, was seen heading down the A127 and went past Tesco at Prince Avenue - heading into the town at about 5.20pm.
The Echo can reveal staff at Southend Museum, in Victoria Avenue, called police after they found a hand grenade and another explosive device in a store cupboard while they were moving some items.
The hand grenade was not live, the other item, described as a "large war bomb", is being X-Rayed by the bomb squad.
It is understood museum staff called police who took photographs which were then sent to the Ministry of Defence. The bomb disposal team was then dispatched.
A Essex Police spokesperson told The Echo: "Police were called just before 4pm today following reports an old unexploded bomb had been found at Southend Central Museum in Victoria Avenue.
"Specialist explosive ordnance disposal officers arrived and there was no need for the building to be evacuated."
The museum is currently holding an exhibition on the First World War.
It comes a day after Southend Hospital was evacuated when a live hand grenade was found.
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