More than 150 homes have been evacuated and a 100-metre cordon remains in place in Somerset after suspicious substances and items were discovered during a police search of a residential property.

The incident began on Wednesday 30 September, when officers from Avon and Somerset Police attended an address on Becket Road in Worle, a large suburban village that adjoins the eastern edge of Weston-super-Mare. The visit was part of an ongoing investigation into fraud offences.

During that operation, officers arrested a 70-year-old man at the scene on suspicion of fraud by false representation. But as investigators began searching the property, the nature of the operation changed significantly.

Officers discovered what police described as suspicious substances and items inside the home. In response to the find, emergency services quickly set up a strict 100-metre cordon around the address, ordering 153 properties within the perimeter to be evacuated for safety reasons.

Specialist assistance was called in, with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit attending to assess the materials. Shortly after 11pm, police confirmed that bomb disposal experts instructed the cordon to stay active through the night while an in-depth search of the building continues.

In a formal update, Avon and Somerset Police said: "We have now had confirmation from the EOD that the 100m cordon must remain in place overnight while an in-depth search is carried out of the property."

The sudden evacuation left many families seeking temporary shelter. Officials confirmed that a rest centre established for affected residents was relocated to The Campus in Weston-super-Mare, with council staff and NHS colleagues coordinating care for those with additional medical needs.

The force also addressed the distress felt by locals who were forced to leave domestic animals behind at short notice. Police stated: "We understand there are several residents with concerns for their pets left at home within the cordon. We appreciate the importance of this but our primary focus is public safety."

What we do not know yet is the exact nature or quantity of the substances recovered from the house, nor precisely when the EOD team will deem the area safe for families to return. The police have, however, sought to reassure the wider community, confirming: "We do believe this to be an isolated incident and searches are continuing. A 70-year-old man remains in police custody."

For now, the focus remains entirely on completing the property search safely and ensuring displaced residents have the medical and practical support they need while the cordon holds. I'll be following this one — check back for updates.