Residents have recalled the moment they were evacuated from their homes after a haul of 'explosives' believed to have been used to make homemade fireworks was found on the street.
Sixty homes were evacuated and a 100-metre cordon erected around Robert Terrace in Shield Row in Stanley, after the bomb squad was called in on Tuesday (August 11) afternoon.
Durham Police said a quantity of potentially explosive substances - believed to have been used to make homemade fireworks - were recovered from a property and destroyed.
Two men, aged 71 and 46, were arrested on suspicion of manufacturing ammunition without a licence.
(Image: PAUL WILLIS)
One resident who was forced to leave their home told the Echo: "We were all evacuated around 1pm.
"It’s like something you see in London, not a little village like this.
"This is a quiet area; things like this don’t happen here."
The bomb squad in Shield Row, Stanley.
(Image: PAUL WILLIS)
Many were left watching from outside the cordon as an ordnance disposal officer dressed in full black protective clothing worked on the other side of the police tape.
An army bomb disposal robot was also brought in.
The bomb squad in Shield Row, Stanley.
(Image: PAUL WILLIS)
(Image: PAUL WILLIS)
The Echo understands the operation focussed on the back garden of a property.
The bomb squad in Shield Row, Stanley.
(Image: PAUL WILLIS)
A neighbour who lives next to Robert Terrace, and was also evacuated with her family, added: "There were police cars and tape blocking the street.
"I have three cats, and I didn’t know if I needed to take them with me or not. We kept asking questions, but they said they couldn’t tell us anything."
Around 7pm, Durham Police confirmed the "suspicious item" had been dealt with and the cordon had been removed.
Another resident said: "People in the area have been saying they detonated something.
The bomb squad in Shield Row, Stanley.
(Image: PAUL WILLIS)
"Everyone was expecting a big noise but there was nothing.
"Two trucks came down the street, and the bomb squad were putting stuff into the back of the trucks.
"It could have been the material they detonated."
The bomb squad in Shield Row, Stanley.
(Image: PAUL WILLIS)
The two men arrested remain in police custody today (Wednesday, August 12).
A Durham Police spokesperson said: "We’d like to thank all residents for their support and patience while we carried out our initial enquiries."
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A County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) spokesperson confirmed one fire crew from High Handenhold attended to assist police.
A spokesperson for the North East Ambulance Service added: "Police requested our support for an incident in Stanley, County Durham shortly before 1pm.
"We dispatched four HART (Hazardous Area Response Team) resources, one duty officer, one tactical commander, and one tactical advisor."