Man arrested after suspicious package found at Burgess Hill Police Station

Watch: Emergency services respond to suspicious package discovered along Sussex road

A man has been arrested after a suspicious package was discovered in Burgess Hill.

Armed police surrounded several buildings including Burgess Hill Police and Fire Station in West Sussex following the discovery on The Brow at 1.48pm on Thursday (28 July).

A 100 metre cordon was put in place around the station by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team.

Fire crews, armed police and ambulance crews were all called to the scene.

Snipers were positioned on adjacent buildings to keep an eye on the situation.

Sussex Police confirmed that the Explosive Ordnance Disposal has successfully destroyed the suspicious package.

One eyewitness, told ITV Meridian "I came out of my doctor's appointment at 3pm. I was told by staff we weren't able to leave the building.

"The doors and windows had been locked, Kitty Bowles added.

"We weren't told initially what was happening. All we were told is that there was a major threat. There was armed police everywhere.

"You could see armed police and snipers everywhere.

"At about 4 o clock we were told we would be evacuated.

"The first thing that came into my head was 'bomb'.

"I kept asking 'is it a bomb? Is it a bomb?' And they said 'we can't confirm.'

"At around 5:15pm two police officers approached the building, and we were told we were to leave the building to the right towards the top of The Brow entrance, and follow up the road and past a police car, and the police were surrounding us so we were safe.

Asked how she felt during the incident, Ms Bowles added, "I thought I was going to die. I was very scared. It was like you're in a movie."

Police say roads in the surrounding areas are likely to remain closed for some time and there is 'a heightened police presence in the area.'

People are being urged to avoid the area while it is being dealt with.

In a statement a spokesperson for the force said:

"On Thursday (July 28) police have responded to a report of a suspicious package in The Brow, Burgess Hill at 1.48pm.

"The Explosive Ordnance Disposal team have attended and put in a 100m cordon.

"Some of the roads in the surrounding area are likely to be closed for some time and there is a heightened police presence in the area.

"The public are urged to avoid the location while the incident is being dealt with."