Homes cleared in 'suspicious substance' alert

Residents were evacuated from their homes today after a suspicious substance was found during a police operation.

West Midlands Police said a 100-metre cordon had been placed around the site of the discovery in Bartley Green, Birmingham.

A force spokesman said: "Police have this morning evacuated properties in the Long Nuke Road area.

"This follows the execution of a warrant at a property in Long Nuke Road, where a suspicious substance was recovered.

"It is not known at this stage what the substance is."

Police declined to confirm why the premises was searched, but the warrant was not executed under the Terrorism Act.