NEARLY 200 houses were evacuated after a suspect package was found at the home of a pensioner.

Residents were forced to leave their homes yesterday afternoon after a suspicious holdall was found behind a house in Richmond Hill Street, Accrington.

A 100-metre exclusion zone was thrown up around the house, occupied by pensioner Maureen Smith, as bomb disposal experts were called to monitor the situation.

At around 4.45pm they carried out two controlled explosions on the device, which was described by a police officer at the scene as either "an explosive device or a deliberate attempt to make us think it was one."

Police investigating the incident have yet to confirm whether or not the holdall, which was blown up using the bomb disposal unit's remote-controlled robot, what was contained in the package.

The incident left residents in the area, which is predominantly Asian, shocked.

Friends of Mrs Smith, who was seen weeping behind the police barriers as the explosions were carried out, said she was too upset to talk.

Her next-door neighbour and close friend, Audrey Griggs, spent the afternoon comforting Mrs Smith as the drama unfolded.

She said: "We have no idea why anyone would do this and it has upset her a lot, as it would.

"She is a quiet woman who keeps herself to herself and you couldn't think of any less likely a target for something like this.

"As soon as it was discovered, we rang the police and a WPC came along. She immediately called the other people out. "It has left us all shocked. It is horrible to think someone could do this to an old woman."

A spokesman for Accrington Fire Station said: "We were called to the scene at around 3.30pm after the bomb disposal experts were called out.

"They carried out two controlled explosions on a suspicious holdall which was to the rear of a house in Richmond Hill Street. We were only there on stand-by."

Eye witness Ismail Patel was one of the people told to leave his home.

He said: "To be told to leave your home is very frightening. I was in bed at the time.

"We had to wait behind the cordon for what seemed like ages. It must have been serious if they actually blew it up."

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said they were unable to confirm what was in the holdall. Anyone with any information is asked to call Accrington Police on 01254 382141.