Neighbours have spoken of their shock after Army bomb disposal officers were called in to a Douglas suburb to deal with potentially explosive materials.

Police inquiries are continuing into allegations involving the making and possession of explosives.

They insist that the incident is not terrorism-related - and the Army explosive ordnance team was present to assist only on the safe disposal of materials.

The drama took place over a number of days last week and during the weekend at a house on Ballanard Road and an empty bungalow round the corner on Port-e-Chee Avenue.

One resident on Port-e-Chee Avenue said: ’An officer came to the door and told us to stay indoors and close all the doors and windows. He was very guarded but said they had found unstable liquids. I said "oh, it’s explosives" but he replied " I didn’t say that".

’He said that we would hear a loud crack and that they would be putting a drone up. Sandbags went in. They are still there in the back garden on the hardstanding where the greenhouse used to be.

’We heard a loud bang, a loud crack - all the neighbourhood dogs went crazy!’

Some residents on Tromode Park, whose homes border the back garden of the bungalow, were also evacuated.

guarding

The neighbour said there had been an unmarked police car guarding the bungalow since the early hours of Thursday. Then on Friday morning, a UK-registered van had turned up with three Army explosive ordnance disposal officers in camouflage uniforms and berets.

’Its doors were wide open, you could see straight inside,’ said the neighbour.

’I asked if there was anything we should be concerned about. They replied "nothing at all but we will come to talk to you".

’That was late Friday morning but it was not until 3pm the following day that the police came to talk to us,’ she told the Manx Independent.

Within an hour and a half of the police calling at her home, it was all over.

Police continued to have a presence outside the house on Ballanard Road until Sunday afternoon, however.

Another resident said he was walking his dog along Ballanard Road on Tuesday last week when he noticed a police car, an unmarked car and a Transit van with an Army officer in camouflage and a beret outside a house with its front door open.

A police spokesman said: ’Following information being received an operation was put in place involving police and partners including the fire brigade and officers from the Royal Logistical Corps.

’The Royal Logistical Corps provided resources and advice that allowed us to treat this matter in as safe a way as possible with the least amount of disruption to the public.

’We can confirm that a male was arrested and has appeared before court. There was no identified risk to the general public. Any measures taken in Port-e-Chee were as a precaution while an item was safely disposed of. We would like to thank all concerned for working with us on this matter. We can confirm that this matter was in no way terrorism related.’

l A 65-year-old Douglas man has appeared in court charged with making or having possession of explosives and possession of a regulated weapon - a Webley air rifle - without a certificate.

David Banning, of Ballanard Road, was remanded in custody after a bail application was refused.

He is yet to enter pleas and will appear in court again on Tuesday (October 16).