Residents evacuate homes in bomb alert

Binmen discovered what they believed to be a dangerous package outside an address on Pickthall Terrace at just after 8am yesterday and called the police.

Officers in turn brought in specialists from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) "bomb squad" unit who ordered the closure of both Pickthall Terrace and Halifax Road, one of the main thoroughfares through the town.

A total of 125 people were moved to Todmorden Sports Centre while the package was inspected and a police cordon imposed around the area.

Following the unit's investigations the package was declared safe, however, and the roads reopened a few hours later.

A police spokesman said rumours that the incident had been sparked by a soldier disposing of material that he had acquired while on active service were incorrect.

Instead, the alert was caused by items which were "completely harmless and had been disposed of by a member of the public in an inappropriate way".

Inspector Allan Raw said: "When the initial call came in we had a duty to ensure that public safety was maintained and that the threat was properly investigated.

"We had to make an assessment of this situation and believed this had to be treated as a genuine threat.

"Having taken the expert advice from the EOD we are now fully satisfied that there is no threat to local residents' safety and we are allowing residents back to their houses.

"The main Halifax Road is now reopen and we hope to return to normal as quickly as possible.

"I would like to thank residents for their patience and understanding in this matter and to the refuse collectors who reported this. We would like to pass on our thanks to them for their vigilance."