Kirby Road has been closed off for seven hours along with surrounding roads such as Hillhouse Road as bomb squads have been called to the area.
A spokesperson for Kent Police has confirmed that a suspected wartime ordnance had been found at 9.18am.
The incident has since stood down, with people evacuated able to return back home at 4.15pm.
Police were called to the scene after Abfab Landscapes were called to a job to dig up a garden and install a fence.
Bobby Moulson, who runs the company, said: “We first discovered it as we were digging to start putting up a fence.
“I thought it was a tin bath or something until we brushed some soil off it and see what shape it was.
“I googled a picture of WWII bombs and realised that it looked a lot like what we found.
“I couldn’t believe it and told the customer right away who phoned the police and they turned up straight away.
“We all had to leave and the road was evacuated. When it was confirmed a WWII bomb I was shocked really I have never seen anything like this before.”
A spokesperson for Kent Police said: “Officers attended the scene where a cordon was put in place and nearby residents have been evacuated.
“A Ministry of Defence bomb disposal team attended and removed the ordnance. Residents were permitted to return home at around 4.15pm.”
