Residents evacuated and bomb squad called after ‘unidentified liquid’ found in Eastbourne house

A bomb squad has evacuated 160 families after an ‘unidentified liquid’ was found in a house.

Police found the substance in a bottle at a house in Eastbourne, on the south coast, on Monday evening.

The discovery prompted officers to call in the army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, who decided to evacuate six roads around Hyde Road in the seaside town.

The road has been closed and the item is secure, authorities added.

Police are warning residents to be out of their homes on Hyde Road, Camden Road, Calverley Road, West Terrace, Bath Road and Grove Road by 9am Tuesday morning.

Detective Superintendent Jon Robeson said: ‘Our priority is to keep people safe.

‘We are satisfied that there is no immediate risk to residents and an evacuation of nearby homes can be completed safely and effectively during daylight hours to minimise impact on the local residents.

‘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.

‘I would like to thank them for their patience and understanding while we bring this incident to a safe conclusion.

‘Public safety is our priority, and the cordon will take in around 160 homes. We will allow residents to return to their homes as soon as it is safe for them to do so.’

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