Homes evacuated for third day after explosives find

Hundreds of residents were facing a third day away from their homes after a hoard of explosives were were found at the house of a man who died.

The "explosive ordnance" was found at the house on Chadwick Road, St Helens, after the death of John Nelson, on Tuesday, Merseyside Police said.

The "reclusive" 64-year-old's home was packed with wartime memorabilia - including devices and detonators - which officers feared could pose a risk of exploding.

More than 200 homes in the Chadwick Road area were evacuated with some families moved to a nearby community centre and then a school hall, and residents have yet to be given an estimate of when they can return.

A bomb disposal team carried out a series of safe detonations in a nearby field and were continuing to work through the home to ensure it was safe.

Police said the address "presented a challenge" as all the rooms in the house contained a "considerable number" of belongings that Mr Nelson had collected over the years.

They said the search would therefore "take some time".

Some of the ordnance is believed to date back to World War Two after Mr Nelson's father was believed to be in the Home Guard, the force said.

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