HOUSES were evacuated and roads cordoned off in Croxley Green on Tuesday after workmen thought they had uncovered a bundle of dynamite while clearing undergrowth.

Police were called to the scene at about 12.05pm after workmen found the suspect device near the railway line behind Gonville Avenue.

Specialist officers from Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Transport Police came to the scene to see what exactly had been found and army bomb disposal team was called in.

Some homes in the area were evacuated and roads around Gonville Avenue were closed off as a precaution but it was eventually discovered that it was only a large empty firework case.

People were allowed back in their homes and roads were re-opened by 2.10pm.

A police spokesman said: "In this current climate we take calls like this very seriously. People would not expect anything less of us."