Bomb squad evacuate Essex street after items found during ‘neighbour dispute’ - The Independent

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A street in Essex has been evacuated after suspicious items were found inside a property following a dispute between neighbours, police say.

Essex Police rushed to the scene in Brentwood around 7.20 am on Friday after reports of a neighbourhood dispute in Sawyers Grove. It was reported that a door had been damaged.

A man and woman were arrested after officers attended the scene and forced entry to an address. They remain in custody, police said, but did not say what they were arrested on suspicion of.

Around 40 homes have been evacuated and a 100-metre cordon is in place as a precaution while the emergency services work at the scene. Police implemented the cordon after discovering a small number of items which they claimed “required specialist assessment”.

Explosive ordnance disposal experts were called to the scene to establish what the ”suspicious items” are. Local media reported an explosive ordnance disposal robot was spotted at the scene of the cordon.

The cordon is in place across much of Sawyers Grove and small parts of Sawyers Hall Lane and Highland Avenue, police said.

Residents whose properties are within the exclusion zone have been advised to go to a rendezvous point at King George’s Playing Fields Pavilion while the cordon remains in place.

A 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.

“A 100-metre cordon remains in place across much of Sawyers Grove and small parts of Sawyers Hall Lane and Highland Avenue. Around 40 properties are affected, with occupants evacuated as a precaution while Explosive Ordnance Disposal experts safely assess a number of small items.”

It remains unclear when the cordon will be lifted.

“A man and a woman remain in custody after officers forced entry to an address this morning, 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.

“We appreciate the disruption this is causing and thank residents for their patience,” they added. “We’ll continue to provide updates and hope to have the cordon lifted as soon as possible.”