Hundreds evacuated in Bristol car bomb scare

Hundreds of people had to be evacuated from their homes in Bristol, after police were called to deal with a "suspicious" car doused in petrol.

A bomb disposal team was sent to Cassell Road to carry out a number of controlled explosions on the car.

Around 460 homes were evacuated and a 200m exclusion zone was set up around the Fishponds area of the city.

Ch Supt Geoff Spicer said the car was examined but "no explosives were found and the scene is safe".

Avon and Somerset Police were called at about 4:00 BST to a report of a suspicious vehicle parked in Cassell Road.

Officers said the car "smelt strongly of fuel" and believed the "isolated incident" could be linked to "an ongoing dispute".

Hundreds of residents were evacuated to a rest centre set up at a local school while the incident was ongoing.

Ch Supt Spicer, said he was very grateful to residents for their "support and assistance".

"We are hoping to get all the affected residents back into their homes as soon as possible," he said.

"As the investigation is continuing, I would encourage anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the Cassell Road area yesterday evening, or the early hours of this morning, to come forward."