Anti-terror police: 'Suspicious item' in Newton Abbot not viable

Anti-terror police investigating a suspicious device found on the London Underground have discovered a related item in Devon.

Metropolitan Police officers evacuated an address in Tudor Road, Newton Abbot, after finding "an item they deemed suspicious".

The item was found to be "not viable".

The discovery is linked to a device which was found at North Greenwich tube station, Met Police said.

Image Caption:Police block off one of a series of roads in Newton Abbot

A 200 metre cordon put in place around the address in Tudor Road has now been lifted.

Residents evacuated from nearby properties have been allowed to return to their homes.

In a statement, Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Further forensic searches will continue at the property in question.

"A police scene guard will remain in place whilst this work continues."

Image Caption:Residents were told to stay outside the cordon in Newton Abbot

Phil Smith, 62, was refereeing a football match at a park around 400 yards from Tudor Road when police cleared the pitch.

He said: "Suddenly a policeman appeared on the touchline and said 'Sorry, you are going to have to stop playing and get out of the park - we want to land some helicopters on the football pitch'.

"He said there was an incident but couldn't say anything about it."

Mr Smith added: "As we came out of the park it was not possible to turn left into the centre of Newton Abbot, so we had to turn right and go away."

A local football team said on Twitter that road blocks had been placed around Newton Abbot "stopping all traffic from arriving".