Updated February 12, 2018 23:27:47

Photo: London's docks were heavily bombed during the Blitz (Australian War Memorial collection.)

An unexploded World War II bomb has shut down London's City Airport, leaving all flights in and out of the airport cancelled and affecting up to 16,000 passengers.

The 500-kilogram bomb was discovered at George V Dock in the River Thames by workers just after 5:00am on Sunday (local time), according to a statement by London's Metropolitan Police.

Police cleared an area within 214 metres of the bomb, including several residential streets, as officers worked with specialists from the Royal Navy to remove the device.

Local officials offered emergency accommodations to residents, as the Newham Council local authority said work to remove the bomb would continue into Tuesday.

Police said the bomb was discovered on Sunday at the George V Dock during pre-planned work at City Airport.

London City Airport chief executive Robert Sinclair said all flights to and from the airport had been cancelled.

"I urge any passengers due to fly today (Monday) not to come to the airport and to contact their airline for further information," Mr Sinclair said.

Mr Sinclair said the airport was cooperating fully with authorities "to resolve the situation as quickly as possible".

Regional airline CityJet said its flights from the airport had been rescheduled to land and take off from London Southend airport.

British Airways said it was trying to minimise disruption for passengers after the airport's closure.

"We are rebooking customers due to travel today onto alternative flights or offering refunds for those who no longer wish to travel," the airline said in a statement.

Photo: The airport is close to London's East End which was bombed heavily during the Blitz. (AP: Frank Augstein)

London City, the smallest of London's international airports, handled 4.5 million passengers last year.

The airport is frequently used by business passengers and is close to London's financial hub in Canary Wharf.

The airport is serviced by major airlines including British Airways, KLM and Lufthansa and has flights to domestic and international locations.

It is also close to London's East End which was bombed heavily during the Blitz — Germany's bombing campaign on the United Kingdom during 1940 and 1941.

Light railway stops near the airport have also been shut down due to the exclusion zone.

ABC/wires

Topics: travel-and-tourism, travel-health-and-safety, police, world-war-2, united-kingdom

First posted February 12, 2018 19:39:39