A suspicious item which led police to close roads and evacuate students in Oxford on Monday (July 24) was of a “non-ordnance nature”, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has confirmed.

This means the item, which Thames Valley Police had already confirmed was not explosive, was not any sort of military supply or weapon.

Police had received a report of the suspicious item in Oxford at around 10.15am which led to the temporary closure of Between Towns Road and St Luke’s Road.

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At the force’s request, officers from the MOD’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team were sent to a construction site off St Luke’s Road, and a temporary police cordon was put in place.

Student accommodation was evacuated and four police cars were spotted at the scene by eyewitnesses.

An MOD spokesperson confirmed the incident was attended by its 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search regiment, the British Army's specialist unit responsible for improvised explosive device and conventional munitions disposal.

The regiment included the 621 EOD Squadron - officers from RAF Northolt and Middlesex - as well Northolt TP.

Police confirmed the item was found not to be explosive and it was removed by the MOD.

The MOD spokesman could not confirm what the item was when questioned by the Oxford Mail.

Oxford Bus Company services were temporarily disrupted but resumed from 11.15am onwards.