Controlled explosion carried out after 'suspicious device' found at Heywood property

Bomb disposal officers have carried out a controlled explosion after a suspicious device was found at a property on Bury Old Road in Heywood.

Officers were called just after 7pm on Thursday and a number of residents were evacuated as a precaution.

Superintendent John Paul Ruffle, of GMP’s Rochdale borough, said: “Bomb disposal officers are on the scene and they will be assessing the device before it is safely disposed of.

“At this stage we do not believe there to be any direct threat to the wider community.

“I’d like to thank the residents and members of the public for their patience as we deal with this incident.”

At the moment it is not clear what the device actually was.