Residents chilled in evacuation

People were put out of the homes in Charles Street and Dill Avenue just after noon on Thursday into freezing conditions as police made the area safe. At 4pm they were promised they would be back in their homes within the hour.

Many of the residents were none too happy.

One lady told the ‘MAIL’: “The car was sitting there for two hours before they sealed the place off. Everyone was up and down the street walking past it.

“There’s people still in their houses. There’s a man down there right beside where the car is. I should have just stayed in the house.”

Many schoolchildren were left stranded and several babies and their mothers had been cut off from home. As many as 30 houses had to be evacuated. Police explained to residents shelter and food was available at Mount Zion House, an offer which some availed of.

One mother said: “I can’t go to Mount Zion because I have to stay out and wait for the kids coming home from school.

“We’ve been out in the cold since 12.30 - they keep saying it’ll only be another hour, but it never is.”

Another resident commented: “The police called at the door and said you have two minutes to get out.

“I said, “I’m not going anywhere - my daughter and grand children are next door”. We’ve been up to Mount Zion and it was dead on, but we’d rather be back in our homes.”