STAFF fled from a Kendal engineering firm today after a member of the maintenance team discovered what is believed to be an unexploded bomb.

Around 170 people from pump and turbine manufacturers Gilbert, Gilkes and Gordon cleared the Canal Head site after a worker found a suspect device as he was digging a hold to relocating machinery at 11.20am.

Firemen and police sealed the area off with a 200-metre cordon and a bomb disposal team are expected to arrive from Catterick at 2.30pm today to investigate.

Geoff Whitehead, operations manager, said staff were being allowed back in to collect personal belongings and then being sent home.