Hastings industrial area evacuated in bomb scare

Parts of Hastings have been cordoned off after a bomb scare today.

The owner of Cash for Scrap on Coventry Road in Mahora alerted police about 11.20am, when he discovered six 30cm long brass pipes with explosive materials inside them.

Police said they evacuated nearby industrial businesses and set up a 200m cordon around the scrap yard.

An army bomb squad from Trentham has been sent to diffuse the "pipe bombs".

Police said it was not known yet how the items arrived at the yard or why they were there.

- NZPA