Evacuation in Greater Manchester as bomb disposal unit assess suspicious package

An evacuation is underway in Greater Manchester after bomb disposal officers were called to reports of a suspicious package.

At the scene, near Worsley Road in Winton, a 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a knife.

Greater Manchester Police have began to evacuate nearby residents and bomb disposal officers are making an assessment of the suspicious package found at the property.

Pictures show a Royal Logistic Corps Bomb Disposal vehicle inside thepolice cordon.

Worsley Road has been closed between Woolden Street and the Lidl supermarket.

One resident said: "People have been evacuated from their houses.

"Police have evacuated a whole row of terraced houses either side ofthe street, that's about 40 homes at least.

"Then you've got the block of flats which is probably about 30 homes,so I'd say altogether there could be 70 homes evacuated."

One woman who has been evacuated from her flat on Worsley Road added:"At 11am around six to eight police cars and vans turned up at theblock of flats over the road.

"Next thing a man was taken out of a property.

"First it was police, then detectives and now bomb squad have arrived.

"About an hour the whole street had to be evacuated. We have not beentold how long it will be until we can go back inside. The bomb squadare going in and out of the flats."

Greater Manchester Police said: "Police attended a property on WorsleyRoad, Eccles this morning following a report of concern for thewelfare of a man.

"A man aged 35 has been arrested on suspicion of possession of a knife."Bomb disposal officers are due to make an assessment of a suspiciouspackage found at the property.

"Road closures are in place while enquiries continue.

"Nearby buildings have been evacuated and a 100m cordon is in place."