Homes evacuated after 'unidentified liquid' found

About 160 homes are being evacuated after a "bottle of unidentified liquid" was found in a house, police have said.

An Explosive Ordnance Disposal team attended Hyde Road in Eastbourne after the liquid was discovered at a property at about 17:30 BST on Monday.

A local councillor said the substance was "potentially dangerous", but Sussex Police said there was no "immediate risk to residents".

The force said the incident was not currently being treated as terror-related.

Properties in Hyde Road, Camden Road, Calverley Road, West Terrace, Bath Road, and parts of Grove Road and York Road were being evacuated and a 85m (279ft) cordon was being put in place.

Officers said the evacuation was being completed "safely and effectively during daylight hours" to minimise the impact on local residents.

Once the safety cordon is in place, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team will manage the safe disposal of the item, Sussex Police said.

Ch Insp Simon Yates said it was not believed to be linked to any other incidents in the area.

Helen Bailey-Foster, who lives nearby with her pregnant daughter, told BBC Radio Sussex the situation was "a bit nerve-wracking".

After her road was cordoned off last night, she said she was not aware of what was happening until looking at Facebook.

"We were none the wiser," she continued. "Nobody said anything."

"All sorts of things start going through your brain."

Ms Bailey-Foster said she was "hoping and quietly confident" that the situation would be resolved "really quickly", though she was unsure of when she could return home.

Police said their priority was public safety

Eastbourne Borough Council said that council officers were arranging rest centre accommodation for affected residents if required.

Councillor Robert Smart told BBC Radio Sussex that "we will no doubt learn more" about the incident and the nature of the substance, which he called "potentially dangerous".

He added that "everybody was going about their business as usual" on Grove Road and that traffic was flowing as normal.

Police said they were evacuating the area as a precaution

Sussex Police's Det Supt Jon Robeson said a number of uniformed officers would be present on Tuesday morning to assist with the evacuation and offer further advice.

"We appreciate the support of residents and the wider community who will be affected by the necessary precautionary actions we need to take, and hopefully they will be able to swiftly return to their homes," he added.

It comes after 80 homes were evacuated in St Leonards in March, after more than 500 canisters of chemicals were found inside a building.