UPDATE: A23 at Crawley reopened after suspected wartime shell discovered

Shortly before midday workmen carrying out roadworks on the carriageway uncovered the one-and-a-half foot long piece of metal.

The road was closed in both directions between the Fleming Way roundabout at Astral Towers and the Lowfield Heath roundabout while an Army bomb disposal team was contacted to inspect the item.

The bomb disposal team has now concluded that the item was not a wartime shell but a piece of metal pipe.

Inspector Andy Sanford said: “We had to close the road for the protection of the public in case the item was a live shell.

“The road has now been fully reopened and I would like to thank people for their patience.

“We apologise for any delays this may have caused but we had to make sure the area was safe.”