A CONTROLLED explosion has taken place after an item was discovered at a recycling centre on Wednesday, October 9.

Gloucestershire Police said Fosse Cross Household Recycling Centre near Cirencester was temporarily closed to the public after an item was found onsite.

A team from the Army's 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Regiment responded to a call-out to the tip, with a controlled explosion of probable pyrotechnic composition carried out.

A Standard reporter noted that the centre was back open at around 4.55pm.

Video viewed by the reporter said to be of the explosion showed a relatively small explosion take place in a field.

The reporter was also shown an image that was said to be of the item subject to the explosion.

The photo showed a long, black object with reference to the military on it. 

It is believed the controlled explosion took place at around 3.30pm on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Police had said on Wednesday: "Fosse Cross HRC near Cirencester is temporarily closed to the public after an item was discovered onsite this morning.

"Police are in attendance after we were called at around 10.15am today and a safety cordon is in place.

"The Explosive Ordnance Disposal team is in attendance and a controlled explosion is due to take place."

On Wednesday after 12pm, a person had written on Facebook: "If you have booked a visit to Fosse Cross recycling today, check before you go. 

"It was closed off by police this morning... a suspected unexploded bomb."

A spokesperson for the Army said: "We can confirm an Army EOD team was called out to a recycling centre in Fosse Cross, Gloucestershire, at the request of Gloucestershire Police."

In a joint statement, Ubico and Gloucestershire County Council said: “Following the discovery of a suspicious device at Fosse Cross HRC by our diligent staff, we took the action to close the recycling centre and evacuate the site.

"Police and the British Army EOD team attended, and following a controlled explosion at a location away from the site, Fosse Cross reopened later that day.

"To help prevent similar incidents in the future and to protect the safety of those visiting and working there, we would encourage all customers to check what can and cannot be accepted at HRCs before their visit.

"This information can be found at tinyurl.com/2jtyw7sm

For details of other recycling options please use the Waste Wizard at gloucestershirerecycles.com/waste-wizard"