People were detained and residents evacuated after a state of emergency was declared near a US air base in Britain

British police declared a state of emergency in the village of Welford, near the RAF Fairford base, which hosts US Air Force forces, with residents of a number of homes evacuated from the area.

Gloucestershire Police said several men were arrested early on Sunday morning on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act.

She added that a specialized team from the British Army dealing with ammunition and explosives is currently examining a number of vehicles, while the police imposed a security cordon around the area.

The police confirmed that the incident was under control, while large numbers of emergency teams were deployed, including the Dangerous Areas Response Team.

The evacuated residents were transferred to a nearby entertainment center, while authorities continue their investigations.