A SUSPECTED bomb alert sparked chaos as roads were closed and buildings evacuated.

Strathclyde Police were called to reports that an excavator driver working on new homes in Cochno Road, Clydebank in West Dunbartonshire had found what he believed to be a Second World War explosive device, at around 10am yesterday.

Officers closed off the area and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) experts were called out.

Staff working on site as well as employees in nearby shops and a petrol station were all evacuated as a precaution.

After examining the item, bomb disposal experts realised it was an old oxyacetalene tank

The corroded tank, thought to be an war time storage tank, was similar in appearance to German bomb.

The A810 was closed between the Cochno Road exit and the Hardgate Roundabout for more than two hours and motorists were forced to take a different route.

Kilpatrick councillor Lawrence O'Neill was at the scene as the drama unfolded.

He said: "There were at least a dozen police around and lots of members of the EOD squad.

"The workmen on site thought they had found a bomb. And of course during the Second World War, Duntocher and Hardgate in Clydebank were extensively bombed. But it was not a bomb."

Officers cleared the site and opened the road fully at around 1pm.

Local resident Jim McGinley added: "There was lots of activity around Hardgate roundabout when they thought they found what they thought was a bomb.

"But it seemed to settle down back to normal quite quickly."

A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said: "We got a call at 10am. Workmen on a site on Cochno Road discovered an item which they believed was Second World War ordinance.

"Police attended as did the EOD, the Explosive Ordinance Disposal team.

"They examined the item, however the item turned out to be an oxyacetalene tank."

rachel.loxton@ heraldandtimes.co.uk