A BATCH of US Army Second World War medical supplies has been found near Evesham, causing alarm to nearby

residents.

The items - around 60 glass vials - were found in South Littleton on land owned by HM Long Lartin Prison and are being analysed.

A spokesperson for Evesham Police said it would be "inappropriate" to speculate as to their contents before the results are known - but it is believed it could be morphine. But why the vials were there remains a mystery. The location was vacated by US forces in 1945, but there are no records showing that medical materials, or dangerous ones in particular, were deposited there.

The one-acre site has now been fenced off while the full extent of the situation is assessed, although police believe there is no cause for people living nearby to be alarmed. Around 150 local residents have been sent letters asking them to hand over any glass vials they or their children may have found so they can be destroyed.

"We have also asked parents to immediately check that their children do not have any of the items in their possession," the police spokesperson added.

"Finally, we would ask the public to stay away from the site so that the work can be undertaken as quickly as possible."

The police are now working closely with the Governor of Long Lartin Prison, the Wychavon District Council environmental services department and the Environment Agency.

An Environment Agency spokes person said to date, no immediate threat to the environment had been identified, but officers will attend should this situation change.

"The Environment Agency is in discussions with Wychavon District Council about the status of the site and may become involved in any long term clean-up if our expertise is required."