Part of Devonport military base is evacuated in bomb scare

One of Britain’s main Royal Navy bases has been partially evacuated over a suspicious package believed to have been posted from Northern Ireland. 

Bomb disposal experts have been called to Devonport in Plymouth, Devon and a large area has been cordoned off in the security alert.

The road has been sealed off in the Granby Gate area after police and Royal Navy teams received a phone call at around 11am.

The incident has happened near the HMS Vivid site, the Royal Naval Reserve unit, which has been evacuated.

One witness said they believe a package sent from Northern Ireland may have sparked the alert.

The Royal Navy confirmed that a suspicious package was reported at HMS Vivid.

One local witness said: ‘We’ve been told to stay in work because a suspect package was found.

‘The police are at the top of the hill about 100 metres away.’

Mark Hart, who works at the nearby Lugger pub, said: ‘I had just arrived when the workmen told me about what was going on.

One witness said they believe a package sent from Northern Ireland may have sparked the alert. Pictured: A file photo of nuclear submarine HMS Vanguard arriving at Devonport

‘There were about 22 of them out on the road and they had been evacuated. They were packing up and had been told to go home.

‘Apparently a suspicious packet had been sent to HMS Vivid and it was from Northern Ireland.

‘The area behind the pub has been cordoned off.’

Police said they were called by Royal Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal shortly before 11am regarding a suspect package in Granby Gate.