BOMB disposal experts blew up a suspicious package in a "contolled explosion" today.

Police evacuated houses in The Diplocks, Hailsham, at 6.36pm and set up a 100m cordon around the residential street.

Officers say the package was left on a wall.

The bomb squad was called in and arrived at 7.44pm to inspect the package.

They carried out a contolled explosion on the device and discovered it was not a viable explosive.

The cordon remained in place at 10.50pm.

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Police are advising people to stay away from the area.

The council has opened a rest centre for people whose homes have been evacuated.

It is at the Civic Hall in Vicarage Lane.

The Argus:

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