Police give reassurance over increased presence

PEOPLE living in one part of Skelmersdale will see an increased police presence over the next few days.

Residents near Stannanought Road in the town reported hearing sirens from 7am on Monday and a number of police cars stationed near the road throughout the day.

They added officers were also reportedly “metal detecting” and

“digging in the tree line next to the road”.

Posting in a local Facebook group, one person said: “They’ve been there since I went past at half one this afternoon then when I came back past at 9pm there were two police cars with lights on and all the trees etc cordoned off.”

Another person added: “At 12pm I walked the dog behind the old St

Luke’s school which backs onto Stannanought.

“Five policemen were metal detecting and digging in the tree line next to the road. Sounds like they must have found what they were looking for.”

Other people driving past the area said police were still there today.

A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said a new line of ‘intelligence’ had sparked the search of land.

They moved to reassure residents it was a targeted search that would result in “extra police officers” being seen in that area over the next few days. The search is not related to any specific incident in the local area.

A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: “We are currently conducting a search of land off Stannanought Road in Skelmersdale and you may see extra police officers in that area over the next few days.

“This is a targeted search as a result of some intelligence and is not related to any specific incident in the local area and as such we can reassure the community that there is no need for concern.”