THOUSANDS of people were last night settling down for a second night away from their homes after a massive Second World War bomb was unearthed in a city centre.

But, as bomb disposal experts continued a delicate operation to defuse the device, more than 1,000 residents stayed defiantly in their homes - despite repeated warnings by police and the military to get out.

Emergency services said last night the 1,000lb bomb, found in the Hendon area of Sunderland, remained extremely dangerous and it could take up to two more days before it is finally defused.

Sunderland Police Superintendent Paul Weir said: "A number of people have refused to be evacuated and some are even coming back to their homes in the exclusion zone.

"We cannot stop them from doing that, but would strongly advise them to take up the offer of alternative accommodation available, because it is still unsafe.

"My advice is that it is dangerous to remain in the area.

"We would urge them to stay indoors and away from windows."

The emergency was sparked when a workman operating a mechanical digger unearthed the bomb on open ground behind the Deerness Park Medical Centre, in Suffolk Street, at 6pm on Monday.

Police immediately declared a major incident and sealed off the road, before throwing a 400m cordon around the site.

Throughout Monday night, in scenes reminiscent of the Second World War itself, about 3,000 people were evacuated from their homes.

Sunderland City Council commandeered Southmoor and Thornhill Schools, where people from 300 houses were kept overnight and provided with food and drink.

A further 100 residents from sheltered accommodation were temporarily housed in a day care centre.

The emergency caused travel chaos yesterday as a series of city centre roads near the site and three schools were closed for the day.

The origin of the bomb remains uncertain, but it is believed it could be from the wreck of a Heinkel bomber, which crashed on Suffolk Street during the Blitz.

Army bomb experts from Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, were called in and were later reinforced by experts from Essex.

Captain John Foran, of 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), said: "The bomb is very dangerous.

"It lay safe for over 50 years, until it was accidentally disturbed by the digger, which reactivated the fuse."

Cpt Foran said a powerful magnet had been used to stop the timing device to enable experts to identify the fuse.

He added: "But it is still very dangerous because of the condition of the explosives.

"Over the years the chemicals have seeped from explosives, which become very sensitive when it comes into contact with air or metal.

"If it exploded it would cause a crater up to 25ft wide and 15ft deep, and would almost destroy the surgery."

Skips full of sand and water were being placed around the bomb to absorb most of the blast, should the bomb go off during the operation.

Cpt Foran said a 5in disc would be cut out of the top of the bomb and two further discs at the bottom end.

Then in a long and delicate operation, the contents of the bomb will be steamed out, before the fuse is finally disarmed