Potential explosives found at Leyland house, police say

"Suspicious chemicals and potential explosive equipment" have been found at a house after a man was arrested under the Explosives Act, police have said.

Lancashire Police said "suspicious items" were discovered at a property on Nursery Close in Leyland during a raid at about 06:00 BST.

A 59-year-old man remains in custody.

Supt Gary Crowe said counter-terrorism officers were leading the investigation, but the incident was not thought to be terror-related.

Various buildings near the town's civic centre were evacuated following the raid and military personnel have also been at the scene.

Broadfield Drive, which was closed, later reopened, while the cordon around Nursery Close, the cul-de-sac where the man was arrested, has also now been lifted.

Local resident Peter Hughes told BBC Radio Lancashire the occupants of 10 houses were asked to leave by police and a nearby leisure centre had been made available for them to gather.

"It's quite quiet, this area of Leyland," he said.

"It's very close to all sorts of amenities and yet, to some extent, off the beaten track."

His wife Susan said residents were asked to leave at about 07:00 BST.

"It's rather a shock," she said.

"Nothing like this has ever happened before.

"I'm disappointed, very disappointed that this kind of thing is happening."

The nearby Woodlea Junior School was also closed and pupils were sent home.

South Ribble MP Katherine Fletcher said she had been kept updated by police about what had happened.

Praising Lancashire Police on Twitter while sharing her statement to the House of Commons about the "major incident", the Conservative MP said it was "an excellent example of our police working proactively to protect our communities," she added.

"I thank all officers involved for their work today."

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