HUNDREDS of people were evacuated from their homes in the early hours after police blew up a "suspicious" car that had been covered in petrol.
EMERGENCY: A bomb disposal officer inspects the vehicle which was reportedly doused in petrol [SWNS]
Officers rushed to a street in the Fishponds area of Bristol at 4am after being tipped off about the vehicle.
The car was said to have "smelt strongly of fuel" and is reportedly linked to an "ongoing dispute".
Close to 500 homes were emptied as residents were ordered to directed to nearby schools and pubs.
CRISIS: Nearly 500 residents were evacuated from the street in the early hours [SWNS]
AWAY: A film crew is told to move back by a police officer during the tense operation [SWNS]
“We were told by police that a car was doused in petrol and we needed to evacuate”
Resident Sadie Pike
Bomb disposal teams carried out a number of explosions on the car which they feared could have blown up at any minute.
Sadie Pike, a teacher who lives opposite where the car was parked, said: "We were told by police that a car was doused in petrol and we needed to evacuate.
"We got ourselves out as quickly as we could and then the bomb disposal team turned up about 40 minutes later.
"We don't know who the car belongs to."
THREAT: A number of explosions were carried out during the operation [SWNS]
Chief Superintendent Geoff Spicer said: "I am very grateful to residents for their continued co-operation and patience.
"Public safety is a priority for us and the exclusion area was set-up as a necessary precaution.
"We will be carrying out a full and thorough investigation into this incident now the controlled explosions have taken place."
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