Emergency services were called to Astley Bridge this afternoon with three streets cordoned off. Residents were told to leave their homes in the Seymour Road area, just off Blackburn Road, while firefighters, police and ambulance dealt with an incident. They were called at around 3pm and remain on the scene - with more officers arriving.
Within the last few minutes police and ambulance have issued statements regarding the incident. They say it was a "concern for welfare" incident on Wilton Street on Astley Bridge. Greater Manchester Police said: "Shortly after 2.
30pm today (Friday 18 October), emergency services were called to reports of a concern for welfare incident at a property on Wilton Street, Bolton . (Image: NQ) "Upon arrival, a man was reported as making threats at the property. There is no wider risk to the public at this time.
"Specialist officers are on the scene and a cordon is currently in place." North West Ambulance Service reported an ambulance response vehicle and an operation commander are the on scene supporting the response. An eyewitness on nearby Gresham Street says people appear to have been evacuated from their houses.
He said: "The whole street is cordoned off, they've got police here, they've got ambulances, they've got firefighters. "People have been evacuated from their houses. "We've got people standing outside their houses, I've never seen anything like it, certainly not round here.
" He estimated around 20 people were standing outside on the stre.