RESIDENTS were unable to access their homes and traffic on one of the main routes into Chester had to be diverted after a suspicious ‘unknown substance’ was discovered in a city property.

Liverpool Road was blocked off for five hours from 4pm on Saturday by the George and Dragon pub as far as the turn-off for Brook Lane while was investigation was carried out.

Firefighters in one appliance from Chester, another from Powey Lane as well as members of the specialist Detection, Identification and Monitoring (DIM) U unit attended.

Police officers arranged for traffic to be diverted and ambulance staff were also at the scene.

A spokesman for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Firefighters were called to Abbots Grange just after 4pm following reports of a unknown substance in a property. Police were also in attendance.

“As a precaution all those inside the address were evacuated, a cordon was put in place around the property and local roads were closed.

“The substance was checked by Explovises Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel, a specialist fire officer and the fire service’s Detection Identification and Monitoring Unit and was deemed not to pose a risk to the public.”

“The substance was removed by crews who were on scene for a total of more than five hours.”