The reason for police, fire engines and military aircraft presence

A resident reported spotting police cars, a helicopter and three fire engines along Fearnhead Lane outside the former Padgate University of Chester campus yesterday afternoon, Wednesday.

As well as hearing the sound of what he described as a ‘controlled explosion’.

Addressing the large presence of emergency service vehicles and police cars, in a joint a statement, Cheshire Police and the Ministry of Defence clarified that this was due to a ‘short notice training exercise’.

The exercise was carried out on Fearnhead Lane (Image: Mike Booth) Referring to the event, a spokesperson said: “Military and police personnel are taking part in a short-notice training exercise in the Fearnhead area Warrington area to test our ability to respond to major incidents if required.

“We’d like to reassure local residents that this is a training activity only and is not in response to any actual threat in the area.”