HAMPSHIRE residents are being allowed to return to their homes after they were evacuated following the discovery of an unexploded device.

Police were alerted to the device and munitions in a suitcase in the bedroom of a house in Jessie Road, Southsea, Portsmouth this morning.

It's believed to have been there for a number of years.

A Royal Navy Team conducted an assessment of the contents of the case and the decision was made to evacuate the area earlier today within 100m of the house as a precaution.

People affected had been directed to a rest centre on Devonshire Avenue which was set up by Portsmouth City Council.