Arrest sparks bomb squad callout as over 150 homes evacuated

A bomb disposal unit was scrambled to Somerset after officers stumbled upon "suspicious items" at a property, forcing more than 150 homes to be cleared.

While carrying out an arrest in Worle, near Weston-super-Mare, on Wednesday afternoon, police detained a 70-year-old man on suspicion of fraud by false representation. He remains in custody.

Officers searching the property uncovered "suspicious substances and items," prompting an urgent call to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit.

Becket Road was the scene of the evacuation

Roughly 153 homes in and around Becket Road had been cleared by 9pm, leaving dozens of families without a place to stay for the night. A precautionary 100-metre exclusion zone was also established around the site.

A later update from Avon and Somerset Police confirmed the items had been "tested and destroyed" by EOD specialists, with the force stating it believed the incident to be "isolated."

Even so, residents were kept out overnight, with the exclusion zone remaining active while a more thorough "in-depth search" of the property was carried out.

North Somerset Council took to social media to point evacuated locals toward emergency accommodation. In a statement, the authority said: "Police have confirmed that the cordon will remain in place overnight while investigations continue at the property.

What did police say about the evacuation?

"Anyone who can't return to their home within the cordoned area, and doesn't have other accommodation available tonight, should go to The Campus, Highlands Lane, BS24 7DX, where an overnight rest centre has been set up."

Earlier on Wednesday evening, a spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: "As part of an ongoing investigation into fraud offences, officers have arrested a man, aged 70, on suspicion of fraud by false representation in Becket Road, in Worle near Weston-super-Mare, this afternoon.

"During searches of the property, some suspicious substances and items were located.

"As a precautionary safety measure, a 100m cordon has been put in place and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit is en route to the scene.

"A number of properties within the cordon have been evacuated and we are working with colleagues at the local authority to find a suitable location for those who have been displaced."