AN INVESTIGATION into the discovery of suspicious package, believed to be a pipe bomb, is continuing following a controlled explosion on Tuesday night. 

Bomb disposal experts were called to the Benson Street area of Stanley, County Durham, at about 3pm after the alarm was raised by a member of the public and the package was made safe.

Police said no arrests have been made and the inquiry was ongoing.

A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: “No arrests have been made so far. We cannot confirm or deny the exact nature of what it was, just that a suspicious item had been found.” 

Durham County Councillor Carl Marshall said information he received about the incident said it was ‘a pipe bomb’.

He said: “In the official communication they said it was a pipe bomb located in the wasteland area behind Benson Street. I had the email from Civil Contingency Unit at the county council.

“As far as I am aware a member of the public reported it as a suspect package. 

“The emergency services evacuated people from 85 houses as a precaution. 

“Public safety was paramount and they located a pipe bomb.

“We live in a worrying world at the minute and the member of the public has done the right thing by informing the police right away, and they have acted swiftly to make sure everyone is safe.”

Temporary accommodation was set up for the evacuees at The Louisa Centre in the town centre.

Shirley Foremen, 76, of Benson Street, said she went to stay with a friend until she was allowed home.

She said: “Everybody in the street had to leave. There were a lot of police in street. It is a bit worrying.”

Police said the recovery of detonators from a house on Lintz Terrace in Burnopfield at about 6.20pm on Tuesday was not connected to the suspect package in Stanley.

The police spokesperson said: “Police and bomb disposal experts were called to a report of potential explosives last night.

“The suspected explosives were discovered in a house. 

“Enquiries were carried out and the items were identified as rail smoke detonators not explosives. 

“The items have been removed from the house and will be safely disposed of.

“This incident is in no way connected to the controlled explosion in Stanley.”