A strong stable set in a graph $G$ is a stable set that contains a vertex of every maximal clique of $G$. A Meyniel obstruction is an odd circuit with at least five vertices and at most one chord. Given a graph $G$ and a vertex $v$ of $G$, we give a polytime algorithm to find either a strong stable set containing $v$ or a Meyniel obstruction in $G$. This can then be used to find in any graph, a clique and colouring of the same size or a Meyniel obstruction.