Police have been granted an extra 72 hours to question three men arrested when home-made bombs were found at a flat near Gatwick.

The men, aged 41, 38 and 35, were being held under the Terrorism Act after two devices were discovered at a flat above a shop in Langley Green, Crawley.

Today Sussex Police were granted more time to question them during a special hearing at Crawley Magistrates' Court.

Meanwhile traders in Langley Parade were back at work today after the alert at the flat above the Jem engraving shop.

They had been forced to flee the parade on Tuesday when the devices were found.

Police cordoned off the area and the bomb squad moved in, with about 25 residents spending Tuesday night at the town's Holiday Inn.

A forensic tent was put up at the rear of the flat in Langley Green yesterday while a robot equipped with bomb disposal equipment searched the scene.

Residents and traders waited in the Dr Samuel Johnson pub near the shops to find out when they could reopen.

Last night police allowed residents to return home and today traders arrived at work to find the area fit for use.

Pinakin Patel, who runs the Kandies Sweets shop, said: "We arrived about 7am not knowing what we would find. No one had told us anything.

"But the area seemed to be back to normal so we opened the shop. I'm so pleased to be working again."

Most shops were open by 9am including the engraving shop.

None of the trio being questioned, all of whom are believed to be Portuguese, has so far been charged.

Chief Superintendent John Dransfield said: "I am satisfied the premises are now safe and there are no more explosive devices."

The police raid on the flat followed the arrest of a 41-year-old man on Tuesday afternoon.

Detectives following up their inquiries carried out a routine search and discovered the two suspect explosives.

A police spokesman said there was no suggestion the bombs had been destined for Gatwick or any other "specific target".