A BOMB scare shattered the peace and quiet of Norwood Green last night as more than 30 residents were evacuated from their homes in Sherbourne Avenue.

Explosives experts from the Metropolitan Police were on the scene shortly before 10pm after a resident was believed to have reported the possibility of explosives planted in a vehicle.

Eyewitness Jazz Gill, who was driving past at the time, said that several handfuls of residents were out on the street while police secured the area.

He said: "There were a lot of police on the scene. I saw between and 30 and 50 people who were out on the street while the road was cordoned off."

Insp Rob Bryan, head of Southall Police said: "At 9.50pm police were called to a suspect vehicle in the Norwood Green area. To fully assess the seriousness of the situation, police implemented road closures at that time and evacuated nearby residents.

"The vehicle was subsequently examined and found to be not be a threat. At 11pm all cordons were removed and those displaced were allowed to return to their homes."

Insp Bryan added that no-one was reported injured and there was no damage of any kind.