AN object thought to be a bomb which led to part of a Felixstowe housing estate being cordoned off is not a bomb at all, experts said today.

AN object thought to be a bomb which led to part of a Felixstowe housing estate being cordoned off is not a bomb at all, experts said today.

Bomb disposal experts who were called to a former military housing complex at Adastral Close near Felixstowe following the discovery of the suspect metal object have now concluded it is harmless.

The drama unfolded just after 10.10am today when contractors digging holes for fence posts came across the object in the ground, about 18inches or two feet deep.

They immediately suspected it could have been a bomb so reported the find to police, telling them it was 12in in diameter and at least 18in long.

After officers arrived they called in the bomb disposal team, who were already involved in an operation at Billericay.

They advised police that it was not necessary to evacuate people from their homes but they were asked to keep members of the public away from the area.

Two officers stayed at the scene and part of the estate was sealed off with police tape.

Once the bomb disposal team travelled to Felixstowe this afternoon they quickly determined the object was not a bomb at all - and instead was a harmless metal container, probably an old barrel.