MYSTERY chemicals in a flat sparked a major emergency response in Bournemouth, with residents at one point ordered not to leave their homes.

Police cordoned off Portchester Place for several hours on Tuesday afternoon (August 22) while it worked to identify chemicals which had been reported at a flat in the area.

Residents were reportedly told to not leave their homes while enquiries were carried out by police and the fire service.

Mike Holyoake, who runs nearby wholesaler Sydney Bunce, was told to go home by police upon arriving at the scene.

He told the Echo: “We were told to evacuate our business by the police as they wanted 400 metres clear.

“This was at around 2.30pm.”

Bournemouth Echo: Police cordon at Portchester Place in Bournemouth.Police cordon at Portchester Place in Bournemouth. (Image: Newsquest)

Dorset Police has since confirmed the items found present no risk to the public and were “not of concern”.

A spokesperson said: “Dorset Police responded to an incident in Portchester Place in Bournemouth on Tuesday, August 22.

“We received information from a partner agency that there were some chemical items in a flat.

“We worked in partnership with the fire service to identify the items. While we completed this examination, we restricted some access in the area, purely as a precaution.

“We now know that the items are not of concern and present no risk. There are no wider risks to the public and nobody has been arrested.

“We would like to thank the public for their cooperation.”

An ambulance car was also at the scene, reportedly as a precaution.