Oldham Road closed, suspicious device found

Oldham Road, suspicious device found

Police have closed Oldham Road in Rochdale after a suspicious device was found.

Oldham Road has been closed to traffic in both directions from the junction with Milnrow Road to the junction with Wood Street and motorists are advised to find alternative routes.

At 11.30am today (Monday 19 May 2014), police were called following reports a firearm and a suspicious device had been found at a house on Oldham Road.

Officers have evacuated homes nearby and set up a cordon around the area.

The recent council works on the road surface in this area have been completed but the stretch is now closed again due to this incident.

Ted Flynn said: “There are lots of police around and we are hearing about drugs and firearms and all sorts going on.”

Staff at Crown Vets stated that the road was open at 11.00am. One staff member tried to use Oldham Road just before 12:45pm and was stopped by police and told “no one was allowed in that direction.”

Staff and customers at the Eagle Hotel were evacuated for a short time and were told that “explosives had been found along with a suspicious package.” The pub has since reopened with traffic easing in the area.

Update

12:55pm – The road has not yet officially opened but footpaths have reopened with some shops being allowed to reopen again. It is understood that it will be a matter of minutes before the road reopens.