A 28-YEAR-OLD man has been charged following an incident at a Wickes store in Newport. The incident on April 4 related to a package found outside the store in Barrack Hill.

The man, who is from Newport, has been charged with placing an article with intent to cause a bomb hoax.

He is due to appear at Newport Magistrates’ Court on December 3.

At the time of the incident, the Argus reported that a bomb disposal squad drafted in a robot. The shopping park was evacuated and streets were closed off.

Dozens of police vans, ambulances and two fire engines attended and cordoned off the end of Barrack Hill, Evans Street and the top of Malpas Road, blocking all traffic to the roundabout.

An underpass leading from McDonald’s restaurant on Lyne Road to Wickes and Aldi supermarket on the other side was closed as well as a pedestrian walkway passing close to the stores.

Both Wickes and Aldi staff were evacuated as a precaution and some nearby residents were also advised to leave their homes.