Police have expressed their thanks for residents 'cooperation, understanding and patience' after a bomb incident saw Loughton evacuated.

Officers placed a 100 metre cordon around Loughton Police Station in the High Road at around 12pm yesterday (September 17) after a member of the public handed three unexploded mortar bombs into the front office.

The bombs, which had been found in the loft of a house, saw hundreds of people evacuated from their homes and businesses.

The devices were secured in the rear yard of the station for assessment by the MOD's Explosive Ordnance Disposal team.

The team, who attended shortly after, have declared the items safe.

Cordons around the town were stood down and roads were reopened at around 1pm.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "Essex Police would like to express its thanks to all persons involved or affected by the unexploded mortar bomb incident.

"A member of the public brought unexploded munitions into Loughton police Station.

"Essex Police expresses its thanks for the cooperation, understanding and patience of the public at large and businesses affected while we awaited the arrival of the specialist bomb disposal team to arrive and do their work to make the items safe.

"We would also like to express our thanks to the members of the community who assisted with those persons who had been evacuated from homes, businesses and nurseries."