Part Of Devonport Naval Base Evacuated As Suspicious Package Found

Bomb disposal experts sealed off part of Devonport after reports of a suspicious package emerged this morning.

HMS Vivid, the Royal Naval Reserve unit, has now been evacuated and staff sent home.

Staff at nearby pub The Lugger say they arrived this morning to find workers for the Oceansgate development out on the road.

Lugger worker Mark Hart said:

“I had just arrived when the workmen told me about what was going on.

“There were about 22 of them out on the road and they had been evacuated.

"They were packing up and had been told to go home.

“Apparently a suspicious packet had been sent to HMS Vivid and it was from Northern Ireland.

 “The area behind the pub has been cordoned off.”

Another eyewitness at the scene has told The Herald:

“We’ve been told to stay in work because a suspect package was found.

"The police are at the top of the hill about 100 metres away.”

The incident took place at Plymouth's biggest redevelopment site.