Houses evacuated and nearby roads shut after man arrested for explosives offences in Derbyshire town
4 February 2023, 17:45 | Updated: 4 February 2023, 20:42
Houses have been evacuated and roads closed after a man was arrested on suspicion of explosives offences at a property in Derbyshire, police have said.
Officers attended an address in Acorn Drive in Belper shortly after 6pm on Friday after police were called to reports of a concern for the safety of a man.
The house was searched and a number of suspicious items were discovered, Derbyshire Police said.
The force added that a 100-metre cordon has been put in place following advice from explosive disposal experts.
A rest centre at the Strutt Centre in Derby Road will open for evacuated people to attend from 6.15pm.
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A spokesperson for the centre said: "The county council with all their emergency planning team and all their volunteers are here, and it's a warm space where they can have drinks and things like that and just see what happens bit-by-bit."
A police spokesperson said: "At this time there is no indication as to how long the evacuation and road closures will be in place."
The cordon covers houses in Acorn Drive, as well as Acorn Way, Swinney Lane and Swinney bank.
"As a result of the cordon, Acorn Drive is closed at its junction with Mill Street and Swinney Lane is closed between it s junction with Mill Street, and just after the junction with Swinney Bank," the spokesperson added.
