TERRIFIED residents were evacuated from their homes on a Newport estate for five hours last night after the discovery of a pipe bomb in a flat.

Army bomb disposal experts were called in to deal with the device after its discovery in a block of flats at Nidd Close, Bettws, at 6pm.

Locals say police were in the area carrying out a number of raids when the pipe bomb was discovered.

Police put up road blocks on Monnow Way and Ogmore Crescent stopping cars buses and pedestrians from entering Nidd Close.

Ten flats and houses were evacuated and the device was taken to the nearby Bettws school fields.

A controlled explosion was carried out at 11.30pm and investigations into the incident are continuing today.

A man is in custody and being quizzed by police today in connection with the incident, and police say they have ruled out any connection with organised terror groups.

Pensioner Sylvia Curtin lives in the flats.

She said: "I was about to go out and a policeman was at my door and said, 'I was coming to get you out, you have to be evacuated. There's a bomb'."

The 76-year-old and partner Ken Thomas, 63, immediately left the flat. She said: "It was frightening."