A suspicious package saw the bomb squad descend on a residential street in County Durham late last night.

Emergency services, including police, the bomb squad, and ambulance, swooped on Emerald Walk, in Chilton, on Saturday evening, after a "suspicious" package was found at a property. 

Homes on Emerald Walk and surrounding streets were evacuated to Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre at about 8.30 pm as specialist officers worked to secure the area. Residents were allowed back into their homes at about 11 pm. 

Follow our live blog on the incident here. 

(Image: Terry Blackburn)

There has been speculation on the street that there had been a fatality but this has not been confirmed by the police. 

A spokesperson from Durham Police has said: "A potentially suspicious package was discovered shortly before 8.30pm on Saturday.

"The area was evacuated as a precaution, and was pit cordon is in place while emergency services carried out enquiries."

Chilton residents have reacted with shock at the incident. 

(Image: Terry Blackburn)

One man, living a street opposite from Emerald Walk, said: "We were told to evacuate last night. We were told to go to the Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre.

"I chose to stay in the house. The police were going door to door saying that they needed people out of the area.

"We were hearing that there had been a death, and that a suspicious package was found. It was mad - really scary.

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"Nobody was being told anything when bomb squad arrived. Most people left."

One woman on the street over from Emerald Walk said she and her neighbour chose to stay home.

She said: "Most people went to family and friends when they were evacuated. Me and my neighbour are quite elderly so we stayed put. It doesn’t matter as much when you get older."