Police are preparing to evacuate houses above Braithwaite following the discovery of a possible unexploded bomb.

Army bomb disposal experts have been called from Catterick camp to investigate the suspicious object.

Police cordoned off a section of Braithwaite Road earlier this morning and ambulances are currently on standby in the area.

District councillor Jan Smithies, who lives in nearby Braithwaite Village, has arranged for places for residents to go if they are evacuated.

She said: “Laycock Village Hall and Braithwaite New Church Hall and on standby if we have to evacuate.

“The police are just waiting for the bomb disposal team from Catterick. Depending what they say, we may have to evacuate.”

The Keighley News understands the object was found in the garden of a house on the Braithwaite Road.

The road has been cordoned off by police from the junction with Braithwaite Edge Road, towards West Lane.

Coun Smithies, who represents Keighley West ward on Bradford Council, said she learned about the incident when she went out of her morning run at 7.45am, and so police .

She said: “I gave the police my ID and asked if I could help.”