POLICE have cordoned off a house in a Southampton street after a major chemical alert.

A 36-year-old man has been arrested after reports that potentially dangerous chemicals were being stored at a house in Butts Road.

Police have seized a number of items and are assessing them.

The house has been evacuated as a precaution, although it is not believed the chemicals pose a danger to anyone else.

The property's windows are wide open, while officers stand guard outside.

Forensics experts are due to arrive back at the scene this evening.

The Daily Echo understands several ambulance crews and a large number of police vehicles first arrived at the scene at around 3pm.

It is believed that a woman and her son live at the address.

One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "I was leaving work and had about eight calls to say something was going on.

"There's something very weird going on."

Another resident added: "It's a bit of a shock, I've lived here seven years and I've never seen anything like this before."