'I served in Northern Ireland, you don't expect bomb disposal on your street in Knutsford on a Monday morning'

Residents have spoken of their shock after being evacuated and forced to remain out of their homes for several hours after suspicious substances were discovered during a police raid.

The drama unfolded after officers executed a warrant at a house on Longridge, a large residential estate just outside Knutsford town centre, at around 7am this morning (Monday).

Police said a 'number of unknown substances' were discovered which caused them concern. More emergency services including firefighters, paramedics and the army's bomb disposal unit, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) were called in.

READ MORE: Family 'heartbroken' as 'loving grandad', 85, dies after being 'hit by a number of vehicles' on main road

READ MORE: Brianna Ghey stabbed 28 times in park by teenagers who had discussed killing other children, prosecutors allege

Six people - five men, aged 23, 24, 24, 29 and 58 and a 22-year-old woman -were arrested. They remain in police custody for questioning.

A 100-metre cordon was put in place with residents at 110 homes in the immediate vicinity being asked to leave their homes whilst experts assessed the material. The cordon was lifted and they were finally allowed back into their homes shortly before 5pm. Those living inside the cordon spoke of their shock as police banged on their doors and told them they would need to leave.

Reitred former soldier Mike Williamson, 67, said officers called at his home nearby at around 10am and told him they were evacuating everyone in the immediate area because ‘explosives had been found in one of the houses.'

Mike spent seven years in the forces including spending time in Northern Ireland in the 1970s. “I was used to seeing the bomb disposal unit but you don’t expect to them