BOMB squad officers were called to a Malvern house on Sunday after a series of increasingly loud bangs.

Smoke was also seen coming from the property on Pickersleigh Road.

Police closed part of the road, from the Morgan Motor factory to the junction with North End Lane, at around 4pm.

At 6.43pm, Benjamin Bonaud of 130 Pickersleigh Road was arrested at his home on suspicion of possessing explosives for unlawful purposes.

The road remained closed as police waited for the bomb squad to arrive.

Local resident Paul Day was tending to his back garden when he heard a number of explosions, the loudest at around 5.30pm.

"At first I thought it was probably kids messing around but when I heard the last bang I knew it was something more," said Mr Day.

He then saw a substantial number of police, some with dogs, had gathered in the road.

Mr Day saw officers cautiously enter the house and make the arrest. He said the occupant appeared to come out quietly and without a struggle.

Police spokesman Richard Bull said a man had been bailed to return to Worcester police station while inquiries continued.