Residents face another night away from homes amid fallout from major incident

POLICE were continuing to search a house in Normanton yesterday with hundreds of residents still unable to return to their homes almost 24 hours after a major incident was declared in the city.

- By ZENA HAWLEY

The area that used to surround the former Baseball Ground remained littered with police tape and marked police vehicles, a day after officers carried out a warrant at an address in Vulcan Street. Police evacuated almost 200 homes just before 2.30pm on Thursday.

Two Polish nationals, one in his 40s and another in his 50s, were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and they remain in police custody.

And in an update issued yesterday evening, police said it was still unclear when residents can return home.

Work was continuing to ensure residents can return to properties as soon as possible, with the Army's Explosive Ordnance Division ensuring that the area was safe before people can return.

Accommodation was available for residents in hotels if required last night.

Superintendent Becky Webster said: "I would like to reassure the residents that have been disrupted and have been required to evacuate their homes, that we, together with our partner agencies, are doing all that we can to ensure they can return home as quickly as possible.

"I realise that this is a huge inconvenience, but we must ensure that the area is safe prior to anyone returning.