Hundreds of people have been evacuated from their homes in Trowbridge this evening in what police are describing as a 'major incident'.
Emergency services were first notified of a fire and smoke in a first floor flat of a house on the corner of Bond Street and Wesley Road at 5pm.
Two fire crews attended the unoccupied flat and nearby residents were immediately evacuated, with Bond Street being sealed off.
As investigations continued, the incident was scaled up at 6.30pm and police extended the cordon to within 100 metres of the premises.
It is believed chemicals have been found and the Ministry of Defence have now been called in, with one fire crew remaining on the scene to assist the police investigation.
Hundreds of residents have been evacuated and Wiltshire Council are now looking into the possibility of setting up a refuge centre if the cordon is not lifted
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