A suspicious item which shut down a street after it was found inside an abandoned car is now being "forensically examined", police have said.
Police were called after the item was discovered in the silver Audi A6 on Car Bank Street, Atherton, shortly before 11am on Thursday (January 2).
Specialist officers were called in for further assistance and a bomb disposal unit was also called to the scene to assess the item, which police have not disclosed further details of.
A cordon was put in place and a number of homes in the area were evacuated as a precaution, but residents were allowed to return home later in the evening.
A large police presence remained in the area throughout the afternoon, with at least five police cars in attendance.
Some residents told the MEN that the car had been parked down the street for a few days.
The suspicious item has now been taken away for further analysis and the cordon has since been lifted.
Investigators are now looking to speak to anyone who may have seen suspicious behaviour in the area prior to the police’s arrival.
Detective Inspector Joanne Johnston, of GMP’s Wigan division, said: “I would firstly like to commend the work of our specialist officers at the scene for ensuring there was no risk to the public during the procedure.
“I’d also like to extend my thanks to the local community for their co-operation and I ask them to continue to work with us while we continue to assess the scene in the coming days to try and gather further information.
“While the item is currently being forensically examined by a specialist team, we are now concentrating on our investigation into the circumstances behind the car’s abandonment and the item subsequently found inside of it.
“Initial enquiries suggest the car has been left redundant for at least a few days and we urge anyone who has seen the car or any suspicious behaviour around that area in recent days to come forward with information no matter how insignificant they think it may be.”
Anyone with any information regarding the incident should contact police on 0161 856 5307 quoting incident number 886 of 02/01/2020.
Details can also be passed on anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
