Yesterday (1 June) evening, a 50-year-old man was arrested and a number of residential properties evacuated, following the discovery of suspected hazardous materials in a house in Reddish. 

The discovery was made during a search, in response to intelligence that a house on Middleton Road was being used to manufacture illegal fireworks.

A major incident was declared last night, as Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and partner agencies worked to dispose of the hazardous material safely. 

Work is still ongoing; a cordon remains in place and local residents can not yet return to their homes. Members of the public should similarly avoid the area. 

Silver commander superintendent David Henthorne said: "Specialist colleagues are working as fast as they can to remove these hazardous materials from the area without endangering any property or any person but, unfortunately, this is taking some time and we cannot estimate how much longer that will be. 

"This is obviously really frustrating for those who live within the cordon and we thank them for their cooperation and patience so far. Ourselves and our partner agencies are doing everything we can to get them back in their homes as soon as it is safe for us to do so."

GMP expects more information to follow with the conclusion of a multi-agency meeting at 10.30-11am this morning.

Residents who have been displaced by the evacuation have been relocated to the homes of family/ friends in the first instance. Those with no alternative accommodation are being directed, by Stockport Council, to Houldsworth Village, Broadstone Road.

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