Man arrested after suspicious device found at house in Bitterne Park area of Southampton

Officers cordoned off part of a Southampton community after confirming they are dealing with a supicious device that had been found at a property.

Specialists were on the scene most of the day and put a 100m no-go-zone around a property in Manor Farm Road, in Bitterne Park.

A bomb disposal unit was parked outside a house in Dimond Road - which was closed off until around 4pm with cones and two police patrol cars.

Hampshire Police confirmed that they had been called this morning at 9.40am after a resident at the house discovered what they thought to be a suspicious device.

A remote-controlled robot, controlled by Navy personnel and a man in a forensic suit, emerged from an alleyway next to an address in Manor Farm Road.

The device was removed safely by disposal experts, who left the scene around 3.20pm.

Police have confirmed that a 41-year-old man from Southampton has been arrested in relation to the incident.

Oaktree Road was closed along with the western end of Dimond Road.

Neighbouring properties within the 100m cordon were evacuated and bus services were diverted.

Crews from Hampshire Fire and Rescue were also on stand-by at the scene.

Jude Hay, 60, a company CEO, who lives in Dimond Road, said: "I'm glad the police are there. They do a brilliant job. I feel safe because they're experts."

Another Dimond Road resident, 52-year-old nurse Jo Kennedy, added: "I just arrived home and saw the road was closed off then my mother phoned because she heard there was a bomb. I don't feel too bad about it at the moment. It looks under control."