Bomb Squad in South Shields
Controlled explosion has been carried out.
Lake Avenue in South Shields is currently closed off after the discovery of suspicious items.
Here's what police there have told us:
"A cordon is currently in place at an address in South Shields to deal with an ongoing police incident.
At around 4am this morning police attended an address on Lake Avenue in South Shields after reports of a number of suspicious items
Officers entered the property at which point suspicious items were found. As a precaution a cordon has been put in place and a number of properties have been evacuated.
Emergency services remain on the scene and specialists from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team will attend the address to identify the items and dispose of them appropriately.
There is not believed to be any danger to the wider public but extra patrols remain in the area to carry out enquiries and reassure any concerned residents in the area."
Our reporter Charlotte Murphy will be updating us throughout the morning here and on twitter @MetroRadioNews