School evacuated after ammo found

The school pupils were taken to the safety of a local church

An Edinburgh school has been evacuated after a mortar shell and bullets were dug up by workmen.

Hundreds of pupils from Colinton Mains Primary School were taken to the safety of a local church following the incident at 1015 GMT on Tuesday.

A two inch spent illuminating mortar and bullets, some of which were live, were found near the school.

The bomb squad removed the World War II ammunition. The school is near a former site of an old Army firing range.

The incident was over by 1215 GMT.

A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said: "We received a call just before 1015 GMT after maintenance workers on Redford Place uncovered what they believed to be a mortar.

"Officers attended and set up a 200 metre cordon while the nature of the object found was investigated.

"Given the close proximity of Collinton Mains Primary School, staff and pupils were evacuated to a location out-with the cordon area."