A BOMB scare plunged Rowledge into a state of confusion on Friday afternoon. The hub of the village was sealed off while an Army bomb disposal unit inspected a suspect package found at a property in Lickfolds Road. At 1-30 pm, police responded to a report of a suspicious device delivered to the house. They later confirmed that the same house had been daubed with graffiti in an incident in February. Military intervention ensued following investigation of the device. Roads in the immediate vicinity were promptly closed off and nearby residents were evacuated from their houses as a precautionary measure. "Police knocked on doors saying 'everybody out!' and a bomb disposal unit arrived. We didn't know what was happening," an eyewitness told The Herald at the scene. Confused motorists were forced to find alternative routes, while villagers mingled either side of the no-go area along The Long Road promenade and on The Square. "I've just came back with my shopping and I can't get home. It's a bit unusual, I must say - not your every day occurrence in Rowledge!" said Lorna King, Butcher Michael Humphries provided welcome refreshments, while The Hare and Hounds car park was filled with police vehicles. Rowledge School was called into action, with deputy head Richard Catchpole and pupils putting out chairs in the school hall for a planned media briefing by the police. However, by 4 pm the bomb disposal unit had found that the package was not dangerous and local roads were reopened, with both police and military standing down. A police statement said: "The device found last Friday at a property in Rowledge was not in a position to explode. However, this took some time to be established by the military bomb disposal unit, as is normal with investigations of this type. "Surrey Police would like to thank the local community in Rowledge for their co-operation and the matter remains under investigation." Anyone with any information likely to help the investigation is urged to contact the officer in the case, Dc Dave Pellatt, on 0845 125 2222 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
