A RECYCLING centre has been reopened after 'explosive material' found there has been detonated.

The Haslingden Household Waste Recycling Centre near Clough End Road has reopened almost 20 hours after a small jar containing the material was found by staff on Monday.

The site was closed at 12.30pm.

The Royal Logistics Corps' bomb squad were called to the scene, along with police officers and firefighters, to close off the site and evacuate its staff.

Sergeant Steve Mawdsley, from the Royal Logistics Corps bomb disposal unit, said: "A small container of a crystallised chemicals, containing picric acid, was found.

"When it crystallises it gains explosive properties.

"These chemicals are very old, roughly from the 1960s."

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A fire service spokesman confirmed there was no belief the incident was to do with terrorism.

Police remained at the site overnight after county council sandbags were delivered to the centre to help with the detonation of the chemicals.

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The chemicals were detonated with a controlled explosion at around 6.15am.

The fire service spokesman said: "A fire crew from Rawtenstall were called to the Haslingden Recycling Centre where a small container of a hazardous, potentially explosive, substance had been disposed of along with other non-hazardous items by a member of the public.

"The tip was closed while the container and contents were safely disposed of by specialists.

"Meanwhile, the fire engine and crew remained there as a precaution."

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A Lancashire County Council spokesman said: "HHaslingden Household Waste Recycling Centre is now open again.

"Sorry for any inconvenience caused."

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