Exeter on alert after discovery of two suspect packages

A large part of Exeter city centre has been evacuated following the discovery of two suspicious packages.

Devon and Cornwall Police said a "full multi-agency" response is takingplace, involving police, bomb disposal experts, fire and ambulance services and the council.

Officers were first called to St Sidwell's Primary School in Exeter after apackage was discovered on school railings.

Headteacher Kathryn Rowden said caretaker Brent Hibbs found the package and saw wires when he looked inside. The school has been evacuated and closed, with children taken to a nearby chapel and church before being collected by their parents.

A second suspicious package has been discovered at a car park on nearby King William Street - resulting in additional road closures and the evacuation of local properties.

Members of the public living and working close to the area cordoned off heard bomb disposal experts carry out controlled explosions on the devices.

Those close to the site in York Road, Exeter, heard what sounded like a controlled explosion at midday.

A second explosion was heard at around 1.20pm.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said further residential roads around the city centre had now been closed, with the potential for train services to be disrupted.

"Police continue to investigate devices found at York Road and King WilliamStreet in Exeter city centre," said the force spokesman.

"Cordons have now been put on both areas, meaning some people are being evacuated from their homes and being taken to rest centres at Exeter Bus Station and St James Park football ground.

"A full multi-agency response to the incident is now in progress involvingpolice, bomb disposal experts, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, South West Ambulance Service and Devon County Council.

"Roads in Exeter City Centre remained closed. These include York Road,Longbrook Street and a number of residential roads around the city centre.

"Police would ask people to avoid the area if at all possible and not driveinto Exeter City Centre.There is potential for train services into Exeter to be impacted as a result, details of this are still to be confirmed."

Miss Rowden said children were evacuated to a nearby park, then St Sidwell's Chapel and then to St Matthew's Church as the cordon was widened. "Obviously our first thoughts were for the safety of the children and staff," Miss Rowden said. "Our staff did an excellent job in evacuating the children quickly and efficiently.

"I cannot comment on the motive for this. But I would point out that StSidwell's is a Church of England school and we have children of all faiths, and some with no faith, who learn together and play together very harmoniously.

"I want to thank our parents for their support and the children for takingthis all in their stride."

Dozens of bus services around the city centre have been affected by theincident. Stagecoach Bus said: "We would like to advise customers that we are currently experiencing delays and diversions to our services in Exeter due to the ongoing emergency situation in York Road and consequent road closures.

"The situation is changing rapidly and we will provide customers with moredetails as soon as we have them."