Controlled explosion as residents evacuated from Bloxwich street
Residents had to be evacuated from their homes for a second time after a controlled explosion in a street in the Black Country.
Homes were evacuated and roads closed after military items were discovered at a house in Station Street in Bloxwich on Friday night.
Police said that twelve people had to be moved from their homes again on Saturday morning while a low-level detonation was carried out.
A 47-year-old man has been charged with two counts of possessing ammunition, including armour-piercing bullets and 'expanding' ammunition.
Paul Morris appeared at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court yesterday. He was remanded back into police custody and officers were granted a three day period to continue quizzing him.
Police had been searching his home and evacuated nearby residents after uncovering items, believed to be army munitions, at around 4pm on Friday.
A cordon was put in place around Station Street with a dozen residents asked to leave their homes overnight.
It remained in place at his home, adjacent to Bloxwich police station, while bomb disposal experts continue their investigation.
The road was closed at the junctions of Reeves Street and Elmore Green Road last night. The Elmore Green Road junction off High Street was also shut.
The cordon incorporated part of the police station and also the church grounds.
A temporary evacuation centre was set up at Bloxwich Leisure Centre in case families needed somewhere to go but no-one took up the offer
Brigg Ford, spokesman for West Midlands Police, said: "Twelve people were evacuated from their homes yesterday as a precaution while bomb disposal teams investigated.
"They were again moved out this morning while a low level detonation was carried out.
"There was no danger of a military detonator going off unless somebody set it off. This was a precautionary measure."
Mike Chomyk, who lives in Station Street, was allowed to return to his family's terraced property at around 9.45pm last night.
The 30 year-old system administrator said: "It is a bit frightening to be honest, but at the same time it is really vague. I have heard there has been a raid gone at some point."
Warehouse worker and father-of three Paul Davies, 46, of Elmore Green Road, said: "I walked home and it was all blocked, I have never known anything quite like it."
