Portsmouth Harbour has now reopened to vessels as the Royal Navy bomb disposal team has begun towing the WW2 out of the way.

Trains and ferry services are running again but passengers are being warned of possible delays.

Portsmouth Harbour has now reopened following the discovery of a WW2 bomb this morning.

Captain Roger Readwin, from the Royal Navy, said: "Divers were called at 03:00 GMT after it was confirmed that a dredger had discovered a 500lb bomb.

"They lowered it back to the seabed and it has now been towed out to sea.

"I'm really delighted to say that Portsmouth is back open."

Divers are expected to carry out a controlled explosion off the Isle of Wight.

Trains and ferries are able to run again after a bomb weighing 500lb was discovered during dredging work in Portsmouth Harbour.

Delays are expected as services resume.

Roads are being reopened in the Portsmouth Harbour area after a 500lb WW2 bomb was discovered during dredging work for the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers.

Royal Navy divers have towed the device out of the harbour.

The Royal Navy says Portsmouth Harbour is expected to reopen shortly as its specialist navy disposal dive team have towed the WW2 bomb from the harbour.

The German SC250 bomb was found in the early hours of this morning in the excavator head of a barge dredging the harbour.

Divers are expected to explode the device at sea.

Hampshire Constabulary is asking the public to avoid the Portsmouth Harbour area this morning if at all possible.

The force said: "Please be reassured that we are dealing with this incident as quickly as possible in order to limit the impact on residents, businesses and commuters. 

"Thank you for your patience while we deal with this incident."

Residents in Portsmouth Harbour and Spice Island and surrounding areas are being notified and offered the relevant safety advice by police officers after a WW2 bomb was found during dredging works.

Officers are advising residents to stay indoors, open any windows and move away from the outer walls of your house.

Portsmouth Harbour Railway Station and Coach Station will be closed this morning and the Gosport and Isle of Wight ferries will also be affected while this is being dealt with.

Gunwharf Quays is also closed.

People living in the Portsmouth Harbour area are being asked to stay inside their homes and follow safety advice after a WW2 bomb is dredged up in the harbour in the early hours.

The WW2 bomb was found in the early hours of this morning in the excavator head of a barge dredging the harbour.

The Royal Navy said: "This type of Second World War German SC250 bomb weighs 500lb and contains 290lb of high explosives."

Royal Navy bomb disposal experts are dealing with an unexploded WW2 device found in the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour.

Lieutenant Mike St Pierre, the officer leading the bomb disposal team on the scene said: "My team of Royal Navy divers are assessing the situation to work out how we can remove the bomb swiftly and safely with the help of the contractors, the Queen’s Harbour Master, Hampshire Constabulary and our operations centre.

“As always the Royal Navy stands ready to respond to these call-outs and keep people safe. Despite being old, these devices can pose a very serious threat.”

The entrance to Portsmouth Harbour is currently closed until the Royal Navy bomb disposal team can safely dispose of the ordnance.  

Hampshire Constabulary is asking residents in the Portsmouth Harbour area to stay in their houses, open the windows and move away from the outer walls following the WW2 bomb find in the harbour.

The force said: "This is being communicated to residents on the ground."

All ferry services in and out of Portsmouth Harbour have been stopped after the bomb find.

The Royal Navy's Southern Diving Unit 2 have taken a picture of the unexploded bomb found in Portsmouth Harbour.

It's understood to be a SC250 500lb bomb from WW2. 

The harbour entrance is currently closed with no ferry or train services running.

The Royal Navy said: "An assessment is being made now about what will happen next."

Image source, Royal Navy

Ministry of Defence Police, the Royal Navy, Portsmouth City Council, Hampshire Constabulary and other organisations have activated a pre-arranged multi-agency plan following the discovery of a WW2 bound found during dredging works in Portsmouth Harbour.

Hampshire Constabulary said: "Our priority is to ensure public safety and minimise community disruption while the ordnance is detonated by the Royal Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal.

"Further details will be communicated to any residents or visitors to the city affected by this operation."

Image source, PA

A wartime bomb find in Portsmouth Harbour means the line is closed between Portsmouth Harbour and Portsmouth and Southsea. 

The area surrounding Portsmouth Harbour has also been cordoned off for safety reasons, resulting in trains being unable to go further than Portsmouth and Southsea. 

Ferry and train services have been halted in Portsmouth Harbour after a World War Two bomb was found in the water.

The ordinance was found by a dredger in the harbour in the early hours, the Royal Navy said.

All ferries have stopped and trains between Portsmouth and Southsea station and Portsmouth Harbour are suspended.

There are also extensive road closures in the area, affecting access to Gunwharf Quays.

The navy said a specialist disposal team was on the way.

Hampshire Police are at the scene.

Image source, PA