A STREET was put on red alert when grenades and firearms were found inside a house.

Residents were evacuated from Lingfield Terrace and Highgate Road, in Clayton Heights, after a man in his 30s, believed to be a former soldier, was arrested on suspicion of making threats and firearms offences, on the same day he should have been in court.

The Royal Logistics Corp’s bomb disposal squad were sent to the scene and a two day search unearthed the handheld explosives and a number of weapons.

Residents in the street were evacuated and a police cordon was put in place around the site.

Police tape could be seen blocking a back entrance from Highgate Road onto the home in Lingfield Terrace and a number of police vehicles and the army’s bomb squad lorry was parked on the quiet residential street.

Soldiers and police officers could be seen in the garden of one home scrutinising the area.

Residents were left shocked at the shocking haul found inside the address.

John Turner, 49, said his wife, Sue, was evacuated from their home in Highgate Road on Thursday.

Mr Turner said: “My wife was told to leave her home and she went to her sisters while I was at work.

“It’s definitely worrying, but I wasn’t here at the time.

“I got back about 11pm on Thursday and my wife had been allowed back home by then.”

Stacey Williams, 36, said: “We walked past on Thursday and asked the police what was going on and if it was anything to be concerned about.

“I’m concerned and worried about it.

“This is right behind our house and there’s only a stone wall between our house and where the police are.

“It’s not nice to live here when this is going on.

“I’ve lived in Clayton Heights since I was 12 and it has always been a lovely area, but it is changing.”

Kathy Burdon, 40, added: “It’s actually really scary when you think what the police have found.

“The bomb squad have been backwards and forwards into this street and it’s a worry.

“You don’t know what to think because they have found grenades and they could do a lot of damage.

“It’s hot at the moment and you dread to think what might happen.

“There’s all sorts going off round here at the moment.

“We are surrounded by drugs and this is a disgrace.”