A bomb squad was deployed to an alleged neighbour dispute in Brentwood, Essex, where police cordoned off the area and evacuated around 40 properties. Officers forced entry to an address on Sawyers Hall Lane, leading to the arrest of a man and a woman.
The incident began at around 7.30am when police cars and a bomb disposal van were spotted on the road. Following a search of the address, a small number of suspicious items were found that required specialist assessment.
Evacuation and cordon in place
Around 40 homes were evacuated as a precaution during the operation. A 100-metre cordon remains in place across much of Sawyers Grove and small parts of Sawyers Hall Lane and Highland Avenue.
An Essex Police spokesperson said: "We’re continuing to work alongside partners to ensure the safety of residents following the discovery of several suspicious items at an address in Brentwood."
Specialist assessment underway
Explosive Ordnance Disposal experts are safely assessing a number of small items. The man and woman remain in custody after officers forced entry to the address on Friday 30 October.
Residents whose properties are within the exclusion zone can go to a rendezvous point at King George’s Playing Fields Pavilion while the cordon remains in place. The street is located close to Merrymeade Country Park, and a pathway leading to the park has also been cordoned off, with some parts of surrounding roads closed.
The spokesperson added: "We appreciate the disruption this is causing and thank residents for their patience. We’ll continue to provide updates and hope to have the cordon lifted as soon as possible."
