A controlled explosion was carried out at Launceston College yesterday, as the Royal Navy bomb squad dealt with a hazardous substance.

Around midday yesterday, a large ‘bang’ could be heard in the town, with many likening it to a “gunshot” or an exhaust backfiring.

A Royal Navy bomb disposal vehicle and police vehicle were also spotted at the college.

Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed it attended. A spokesperson said yesterday: "Police attended Launceston College at around 11.30am this morning [May 20] to assist the Royal Navy’s EOD team which was tasked with the safe disposal of a suspected hazardous substance."

A spokesperson for the Royal Navy has confirmed that the SDU 1 bomb disposal unit based in Devonport, Plymouth, attended the school to destroy an old bottle of a dangerous and toxic substance that staff had found in storage.

Teams were able to explode the substance, Dess–Martin periodinane (DMP) - on the school field.