Radioactive canister found in Tadley shed

A spokeswoman for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, (HFRS), Julie Jacobs, said five pumps were called at 8.36pm, to an address at a house in Giles Road, including pumps from Tadley and Alton, plus two from Basingstoke and a special equipment unit from Redbridge, Southampton.
"A canister was found in a shed in the back garden and which had radioactive signs on it," said Ms Jacobs.
The fire service has confirmed the contents of the canister were established as radioactive, and by a HFRS detective, inspection and monitoring team at the scene.
A 45 metre cordon was established and 16 households were evacuated, following which the cordon was scaled down to the shed.
No-one was hurt.
The canister was collected by the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), HFRS has confirmed.
AWE released the following statement this afternoon (Monday):
"We can confirm that, as part of its role in providing national specialist support on incidents involving radioactivity, AWE was called to assist at a Hampshire police incident at an address in Tadley last night at approximately 2200 hours.
Radioactive monitoring results of the site and the recovered container confirm low levels radioactive readings that pose no threat to members of the public.
We are continuing to work with the Environment Agency to determine the optimum disposal route."
Hampshire Constabulary spokeswoman, Melanie Turkington, said no police investigation was currently underway into the incident.
For more on this story and further photographs, see the Newbury Weekly News, published on Thursday - sister paper of Newbury Today.
Photograph Paul King