Eastbourne residents evacuated as 'unidentified liquid' found

Summary

A bottle of "unidentified liquid" was discovered in a property in Eastbourne on Monday
The building had previously been occupied by squatters and was being cleared out, police said
The bomb squad has carried out a controlled explosion of the item and has now left the scene
People living in about 160 properties nearby were evacuated from their homes earlier but have now begun to return
The incident is not currently being treated as "terror-related" by police
Listen to coverage on BBC Radio Sussex

Live Reporting

Edited by Nathalie Edell. Writers: Joshua Askew and Stuart Maisner, with George Carden in Eastbourne

Council sets up rest centre in response to incidentpublished at 09:52 British Summer Time

Eastbourne Borough Council has opened a rest centre accommodation at the Town Hall in Grove Road for affected residents.
"Anyone who needs to visit the rest centre should report to the main reception," it added.
The local authority urged people in the affected area to stay with family and friends if possible.
'Our priority is to keep people safe' - Sussex Policepublished at 09:47 British Summer Time

Image source, Eddie Mitchell
Det Supt Jon Robeson said officers' "priority is to keep people safe" following the evacuation of six streets in Eastbourne.
He thanked residents for their "patience and understanding" while emergency services brought the "incident to a safe conclusion".
“The item is secure and the road closed," Mr Robeson said.
"A number of police will be present to provide reassurance as we work with emergency services and other partner agencies to minimise disruption," he continued.
"We will allow residents to return to their homes as soon as it is safe for them to do so.”
What we know so far ....published at 09:43 British Summer Time
- Sussex Police has encouraged about 160 homes to evacuate after a "unidentified liquid" was found in a house on Hyde Road on Monday evening
- The force said the step was being taken as a precaution and there was no immediate risk to residents
- An Explosive Ordnance Disposal team has attended the scene
- Affected areas are Hyde Road, Camden Road, Calverley Road, West Terrace, Bath Road, and parts of Grove Road and York Road
- Eastbourne Borough Council said it is arranging rest centre accommodation for affected residents if required
Welcome to our live coveragepublished at 09:34 British Summer Time

Welcome to our live page as about 160 homes are being evacuated after a "bottle of unidentified liquid" was found in a house in Eastbourne.
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".
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