Worried residents 'frantically packing bags' after evacuation as bomb units cordon off roads with major incident declared

'Worried' residents evacuated from their homes were 'frantically packing bags' after 'suspected hazardous materials' were uncovered at a house in Stockport with police declaring a major incident.

Forensics, fire crews and specialist explosives units swarmed Middleton Road in Reddish on Thursday (June 1) as a house was inspected and huge cordons were erected amid the investigations.

Throughout the day the areas taped off expanded to around 100m as nearby residents claimed they were instructed to 'pack an overnight bag' and were evacuated from their homes and directed to Life Leisure Houldsworth Village as they were told it was unlikely they could return home.

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A 50-year-old man was later arrested and taken into police custody and was held under Section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act. The force announced that 'suspected hazardous materials' had been discovered after a property was searched in response to intelligence about the manufacture of illegal fireworks.

Those evacuated were asked to stay with family and friends, but those with no alternative accommodation were directed to the leisure centre and told it was 'unlikely' they could return to their homes on Thursday night.

Eyewitnesses have told of the chaotic scenes as emergency services first flooded the quiet residential street as others told of their 'worry' and 'shock' at the incident as they hastily packed their bags to leave home.

One resident, who lives on Middleton Road told the M.E.N: “It started early this morning, about 10 o’clock, I woke up to it all. There were fire engines, police, and it’s just unravelled all day. I went to the shops a few times and the fire service guys told me it