Country Park on borough outskirts used for controlled explosion

A country park on the outskirts of the Erewash borough has been used at the culmination of an incident in Derby in which a number of properties were evacuated.

Derbyshire Police officers received a report at around 10:30am on Tuesday 21st April following the discovery of potentially hazardous chemicals at a business premises on Midland Road in the city.

The substances were found during routine work at a business in the area and there are no criminal matters in relation to them.

As a precaution, a 100m cordon surrounding the premises was established, along with road closures, along with properties being evacuated as a precautionary measure whilst emergency services responded to the incident.

A joint response included representatives from Derby City Council, East Midlands Ambulance Service, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team.

Police officers liaised with people who were in the affected area around Midland Road and London Road. In addition, officers liaised with staff at Castleward Spencer Academy, part of which was inside the cordon. but staff and students were advised to stay inside whilst a plea was also issued to members of the public to avoid the area whilst emergency services responded to the incident.

Potentially hazardous chemicals that were discovered at the scene were safely taken away from the area and destroyed. Those in the City Centre areas affected were then allowed to return by mid afternoon.

The Army’s Explosives Ordnance Disposal unit, supported by a police escort, transported the substances to a secured area within Elvaston Castle Country Park where a controlled explosion on the chemicals was carried out, but members of the public who were close by and who may have heard a loud bang were reassured that there was no reason to be alarmed.