A Stoke-on-Trent road has been cordoned off after a 'suspicious package' has been found.
Knight Street, in Tunstall, has been cordoned since approximately 12.50pm while officers from Staffordshire Police deal with the package.
Families are being told to avoid the area - including the Roundwell Street junction which is also closed off.
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "Officers are currently responding to an incident on Knight Street in Tunstall following a report that a suspicious package has been found.
"As a precautionary measure, a cordon is in place and Knight Street, including the junction with Roundwell Street, is currently closed. Members of the public are advised to avoid the area at this time.
"Colleagues from the military Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) will be in attendance shortly. We would like to thank the public for their patience and updates will be provided this afternoon."
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Key Events
Police update
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said:
Earlier today, officers responded to an incident at Knight Street in Tunstall following reports that a suspicious package had been found.
As a precautionary measure, a cordon was set up and residents were advised by police at the location around their safety.
Colleagues from the military Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) attended the scene and on inspection found that the item was a type of firework and a controlled explosion was not necessary. It has been removed safely and the road will re-open shortly.
We would like to thank the public for their patience.
'It was scary when I saw the bomb squad turn up'
Diane Boden, aged 51, Knight Street, said: “All the police were here about 12.45 and they had cordoned off the street.
“I’m glad it’s ok because it was scary when I saw the bomb squad turn up. Someone asked the policewoman if it was a bomb and she said no.
“There’s always something going on in this street. I was waiting to go out to see my daughter but I thought it was best to stay indoors because of all the police presence.
“It was quite frightening, because these days you hear of things like
this happening, there’s that much going on today.”
'They just said stay inside'
One neighbour said: “Just saw a truck turn up and the police said to go back inside and stay in. “Turned up about an hour ago and the bomb squad about half an hour ago.
“The roads been blocked off since this morning with a police car.
“But they didn’t say they were leaving they just left and just said to stay inside”
'Package was left in one of the alleyways'
Jacqueline Heath, of Knights Street, said: “It was all taped off from about an hour ago. “And people couldn’t come up here and go down brown hill street.
“Then the next minute about half an hour ago bomb squad turned up. “Police lady was very nice but they were stopping everybody from going everywhere.
“Police officer said they checked but it wasn’t what they thought it was.“Think it was a package left in one of the ally ways.”
Witness account
Jules Morrison, aged 64, from Leicester was visiting his sister. He said: “I got here this morning and I went to turn into Knight Street and it
was all blocked off and four or five police men were here.
“I could tell it was serious because they weren’t community police officers. I asked them how long it would be cordoned off for and they said they couldn’t tell me.
Bomb disposal team
Neighbour reaction
Neighbour Brenda Doherty said: “One police car turned up about half eight this morning and then they all turned up afterwards. My grandaughter heard banging last night.”
