EXPLOSION and screams echoed through a residential street after a bomb squad swarmed on Friday.

Locals in Lenton, Nottinghamshire, were blocked from their homes for several hours from 2pm in the terrifying ordeal.

Cops detained a man under the Mental Health Act after carrying out two controlled explosions on suspicious packages.

Two packages were found in Lenton – one in Allington Avenue and the other in nearby Maxwell Court.

Photographs show the area in and around Allington Avenue as well as Park Road and Willoughby Street were cordoned off.

A man entered a property on Park Road carrying a device and wearing full black protective gear.

At around 9.25pm onlookers could be heard screaming after two loud explosions were heard.

Fire and rescue officers could also be seen accessing sewers and a second fire engine appeared on the scene.

Abigail Cronin, 21, who lives on Rolleston Drive, told the Nottingham Post: “I’ve been out here since it started at 2, I’d just come back from a nail appointment.”

Ms Cronin, a student at Nottingham University, added: “My car is in the cordon with all my stuff in, so I’m not a big fan of leaving that overnight.

“I went to Starbucks for a bit to pass the time, but I also want to be close in case there are any updates, so I’ve just been milling about ever since.

“There’s a lot of mixed information and it’s frustrating.”

Antoniella Luongo, 90, who has lived on Allington Avenue since 1966, said: “I’d just gone back. A police officer told me we need to leave.

“But I was starving and was about to cook something to eat. She came back 10 minutes later and said I could stay, but that I’d be in danger.

‘I’M NOT SCARED’

“I’m not scared. I’m in my own home. I’m sick and I’m not allowed to go out anyway, my tablets are at home.”

Nottinghamshire Police said: “The site of this package has been established and Explosive Ordinance Disposal engineers are at the scene.

“People are advised to stay away from the area until further notice, while residents from Allington Avenue and the surrounding areas have been evacuated as a precaution.

“A cordon is in place and roads are closed in Lenton on Derby Road, between the junctions of Welby Avenue and Harrington Drive.”

A further update read: “We’ve now reduced a cordon after suspicious packages were found in Lenton. A controlled explosion was carried out on a package found in Maxwell Court.

“Specialists are still assessing another found in Allington Avenue. We’ve detained a man under the Mental Health Act.”

Lilian Greenwood, previously the Labour MP for Nottingham South, said: “This is shocking and very worrying. Hope everyone is safe.”