LOCAL residents living within the 100m cordon surrounding a Grimethorpe property are now being evacuated.
Around 130 homes are being evacuated while emergency services continue their response after a number of suspicious items were found at an address on Brierley Road following a warrant this morning.
It is anticipated residents may be evacuated for 48 hours. Anyone evacuating is asked to pack a bag with all the essentials you may need for the next couple of days. Please consider any medication you may require and what arrangements need to be put in place for your pets.
Barnsley Council has opened a rest centre at St Luke's Church for residents who don't have anywhere else to go during the evacuation. Follow Barnsley Council for further details on this.
There are no schools within the cordon and pupils at Milefield Primary, Ladywood Primary and Outwood Academy can be collected as usual at pick-up time. Parents have been contacted directly about further arrangements.
Emergency services, the army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team and other partners remain in the area. All roads within the 100m cordon are closed and members of the public are asked to avoid the area.
Assistant Chief Constable David Hartley, gold commander, said: "We are very grateful to local residents for their continued patience and understanding as we carry out our vital work. This has already greatly helped our response and public safety will remain at the forefront of our minds as this investigation progresses."
Coun Sir Steve Houghton CBE, Leader of Barnsley Council, said: “We’re working closely with our colleagues at South Yorkshire Police, and we have staff out in the area supporting their response. We have opened a rest centre at St Luke’s Church for people who are being evacuated and don’t have anywhere else to go. I urge local people to follow the advice from the police and keep them and their families safe."
A 58-year-old man who was earlier arrested on suspicion of offences under the Firearms Act remains in custody.
Police will continue to update with further information as soon as they can.
