Fakenham gets back to normal after bomb alert

IAN CLARKE

People in Fakenham are returning to their homes and workplaces this afternoon after a suspected homemade bomb was taken to the town's police station.

The drama started at about 10.05am when a man from Holt Road, Field Dalling - about eight miles from Fakenham - drove his pick up truck into the station car park at Norwich Road with the device which he had found in his garden.

The man also said he had heard a bang from his garden last night.

A 200m exclusion zone was set up around the police and bomb disposal experts were called in.

and arrived on scene at about midday.

They used x-ray equipment and said it appeared to be a homemade device that “did not pose any significant risk” and it was made safe.

The exclusion zone was lifted and life returned to normal.

A search of the man's garden at Field Dalling is being carried out.

Detective Inspector Andy Guy from North Walsham Police Station is conducting the enquiry and is appealing for anyone with information about this incident in particularly anyone who has seen any suspicious actions in the area of Holt Road, Fakenham, in recent days to contact him on 0845 4564567 or they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

After the initial emergency was signalled at about 10.05am in Fakenham, residents and workers were told to leave their homes and businesses.

Dr Teresa Kleinhans, one of two dentists at the Wensum Dental Practice on Norwich Road which is about 100 yards from the police station, said police had told everyone to leave immediately.

One patient had been having treatment at the time and several other people had been due to have appointments during the morning

“We were not able to take any appointment cards with us so we weren't able to contact people. It all happened so suddenly.”

People who were evacuated were taken to the Fakenham Infants School and Fakenham College.

Social services staff were also evacuated.

Fire crews from Fakenham and Wells stood by as a precaution.