FIVE people have been arrested after a bomb threat in Heywood.

A 17-year-old man and 25-year-old man, and three women, aged 17, 24 and 41, have been arrested on suspicion of Explosives Act offences. They remain in police custody for questioning.

Police discovered a potentially explosive device as they conducted a search inside a house in the Darnhill area at about 9.20pm yesterday.

They alerted specialist officers about the discovery in Bury Old Road and bomb disposal teams were called to the site.

The property was being searched as part of an ongoing investigation into the theft of a motorbike.

A controlled explosion was carried out and several properties were evacuated as a precaution.

Chief Inspector Mark Warner, of Greater Manchester Police's Rochdale division, said: “I understand this will have caused concern to the community but the device has now been safely dealt with and we do not believe there to be any wider threat.

"We have five people in custody and enquiries are continuing.

"Whilst the device is believed to have been viable, the investigation is being led by Rochdale CID and is not currently being treated as terrorism related.

"I would urge anyone with any information to please get in touch as soon as possible so that we can piece together the circumstances surrounding this discovery."

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 8437 or 101 quoting incident number 1690 of January 3, 2018.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.