TRAVEL chaos hit Newport after what was thought to be an unexploded Second World War bomb was found by rail workers on the train line.

Network Rail engineers carrying out electrification work on the South Wales Mainline at Ebbw Junction found the device, which turned out to be old construction equipment at around 3.30pm, leading to all lines between Newport and Cardiff being closed for more than two hours from 4.20pm.

The discovery also led to the closure of the SDR from Ebbw Bridge roundabout to Maesglas Retail Park for around two hours.

Newport station was packed with hundreds of stranded commuters during rush hour until replacement bus services were provided.

Arriva Trains Wales later advised people ‘not to travel if non-essential’, as their replacement buses were also stuck in the city’s traffic.

The impact of the train line closure was felt as far as Gloucester while roads around the city suffered gridlock while the Royal Logistics Corps bomb disposal team headed to the site near to Ebbw Junction.

They quickly confirmed the item had a 'similar in appearance to ammunition' but was actually construction equipment.

Passenger Sarah Ainsworth, 24, said: "I've had to get a replacement bus from Cardiff and my mum is picking me up to take me back to Pontypool."

Claire Davies, 45, was stranded at Newport station and added: "I can't get on one of the replacement buses because my little daughter has autism. We have been told there will not be trains for an hour and a half, maybe longer than that.

"We feel stranded, abandoned. I'm not happy at all, I've other children at home and have had to arrange childcare for them.”

The British Transport Police (BTP) also cornered off the end of Maesglas Road/Crescent footpath by the bridge replacement works due to its proximity with the suspected bomb.

A BTP spokesman said: “At around 3.30pm yesterday, our officers were called to the line near Newport railway station after workmen reported finding a potential unexploded device.

“All trains in the area were put on stop while investigations were carried out. A cordon was put in place and explosives experts were called to identify and deal with the device, which was later confirmed to be an item of construction equipment similar in appearance to ammunition. The cordon was lifted at 6.15pm."

An Arriva Trains Wales spokeswoman added: “Network Rail reported the discovery of a possible unexploded wartime bomb near Ebbw Junction.

“The line was closed at 4.24pm and re-opened at 6.42pm although services were delayed until around 7.30pm.”