Pisa airport in central Italy shut down yesterday evening with all flights in and out cancelled after a World War II bomb was uncovered near the runways during maintenance works.

“An explosive device dating back to World War II was found this evening in an area near the runway. The airport has been closed and is expected to open again mid-morning tomorrow,” a spokesman for the airport said.

He was unable to say how many flights would be cancelled in total.

Experts were in the process of establishing a 500-metre safety zone around the device in preparation for its removal, according to ANSA news agency.

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