A BOMB disposal team has been in action in Otley.

Police were alerted at just after 11am today by a builder who called to say he had unearthed a suspected unexploded bomb on Side Copse.

The road, off Cross Green, was cordoned off as a precaution and bomb disposal experts from Catterick Garrison called out to the scene.

After a short inspection they removed the object so they could destroy it by carrying out a controlled explosion.

Local resident Dan Lebath watched the whole drama unfold. He said: "A new bungalow is being built around the back of a neighbour's house and he's been having excavations done for the landscaping.

"I was told that they had found an aerosol-sized, potential incendiary bomb.

"I was just coming out of my house at about 11.45am on Friday to walk the dog when I noticed the police had taped the whole street off and an inspector was knocking on doors, talking to people."

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "We were called at 11.05am and told that a builder who was digging in the area had found an object he believed to be an unexploded bomb.

"Side Copse was closed as a precaution and a bomb disposal team from Catterick was consulted and attended."

Award-winning movie and TV actor Stephen Tompkinson had been in the area just the night before, filming close by for a new series of crime drama DCI Banks.