Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes after a British World War 2 bomb was found in Germany.

At least 17,000 people were told to evacuate from the eastern city of Dresden.

Around 330 police officers have been deployed so they can monitor the exclusion zone.

The 550lbs British-made bomb was found during clearance work on the Carola Bridge. It is required to be defused on site.

The evacuation zone was cordoned off about 9am on Wednesday and those residents within have been urged to immediately get out.

Police have indicated that once everyone has left the defusing work can start.

"The Dresden police are asking everyone still in the evacuation zone to follow the instructions of the emergency officers," local police said.

"Approximately 17,000 people are affected by the evacuation.

GETTY | A visitor looks at the 1945 photograph of a ruined Dresden called "View From the City Hall Tower Towards the South" by Richard Petersen

"Traffic in the surrounding area is being diverted by the police.

"Motorists are asked to steer clear of the area."

Police also said fire and rescue personnel were deployed alongside 330 police officers.

Emergency shelters opened at 6am on Wednesday with the bomb defusal unit ready to start work.

Getty |

During WW2 Dresden was devastated by Allied bombing (stock pic)

Dozens of shuttle buses were used to help residents get out of the exclusion zone.

The bomb was found shortly before 8am on Tuesday.

Bomb disposal unit specialists were called in to assess the scene.

Police said it had determined a "250-kilogram British made World War 2 bomb" had been found.

"It is equipped with a detonator and must be defused on site," local police added.

In World War 2, the bombing of Dresden was a joint British and American aerial attack on the city between February 13 and 15 in 1945.

It included four raids with 772 heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force and 527 United States Army Air Forces dropping more than 3,900 tons of high-explosive bombs.

It destroyed more than 1,600 acres of the city centre.

Up to 25,000 people were killed in the attacks.