THE bomb squad was called to Cinderford last week after a report of a suspicious item.

Police were called after a suspicious item was found at the rear of the Belle Vue Centre in Belle Vue Road shortly after 4pm last Wednesday, (May 8).

The Cinderford Town Council-owned building, which houses the council chamber and offices, the towns register office and a business centre, was evacuated by officers while the army’s explosive ordnance disposal team assed the item.

They declared that it did not pose a threat to the public and dismantled it and investigations are continuing.

“They evacuated the building,” an eyewitness said.

“They found a device. It wasn’t something historic.

“There’s a lot of World War Two ordinance in the Forest of Dean and a lot of people thought it was something like that.

“Whatever it was – it was serious enough for them to evacuate the building straight away.

“They were up there still at 7pm and then they took it away. That’s all we know.