Businesses cleared over explosives fear

It was claimed a handmade explosive device was in a container on an industrial site in South Shields

A bomb disposal squad was sent to an industrial estate over fears that what police called a "small handmade device" was being stored there.

Businesses around Portberry Street in South Shields, close to the banks of the River Tyne, were cleared at about 10:00 BST on Tuesday amid claims there were explosives inside a storage container.

Roads were closed while ordnance experts from the Ministry of Defence checked the area was safe. A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of making explosives with intent to endanger life.

The cordon around Portberry Street was later lifted and there have been no reports of injuries.

Northumbria Police said the arrested man remained in custody on Wednesday morning, but offered no information on what was found at the industrial estate.