A SECTION of the M5 near Oldbury has now re-opened after the earlier discovery of what was at first thought to be an unexploded bomb.

The scare prompted the closure of the busy motorway from J1 at West Bromwich to J2 at Oldbury earlier today after a member of the public discovered a suspicious device under the motorway, the Central Motorway Police Group said.

But the item has since been found to be a flare.

An update from CMPG on Twitter said: “From initial assessment by MOD bomb disposal over the phone the device is believed to be a flare. The motorway is being reopened whilst we await MODs attendance to dispose of the flare. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”

Highways England has since confirmed the motorway has been fully re-opened.

Our online traffic feed, however, reports that Green Street remains closed both ways from Stone Street to the A457 Oldbury Ringway.