Lisa Clark hasn’t been home since Tuesday
Lisa Clark, 37, can’t go home after what police found in a nearby house
A mum who is 38 weeks pregnant has been told she cannot return home as bomb squads continue to search a nearby house. Lisa Clark is one of dozens of families in St Helens who have been forced to uproot and leave after several IEDs were found in a house on Tuesday, June 24, on Chadwick Road following the death of a 64-year-old.
Merseyside Police officers were called to the house following the death of John Nelson on Monday, June 23, before a search of the house found several IEDs, leading to controlled explosions taking place. Police said Mr Nelson lived a “reclusive life”, with officers being concerned about further homemade explosives being in the house.
He is said to have had an extensive wartime memorabilia collection, with neighbours telling the ECHO how he had a strong interest in history. Following the initial discoveries, the area remains on lockdown, with people on several streets unable to return home.
One of those is Lisa, a mum-of-one who is expecting to go into labour soon. The 37-year-old explained how she initially missed the knock at the door of her home on Roland Avenue by police as she was asleep before her friend called her to check she hadn’t gone into labour.
When she told her she hadn’t, her friend quickly told her the her street had been evacuated and she need to leave. Lisa quickly packed a bag for hospital in case she were to go into labour, fed the cats and grabbed the car seat for the imminent newborn before leaving her home for what would be the last time in four days.
Fire Fighters at the cordoned off Chadwick Road(Image: Liverpool echo)
She told the ECHO: “I’m up the wall at the moment. I’ve got two cats in the house and I had to wait 35 hours to go in and feed them last night. We haven’t had any direct communication, it’s all been on social media and when people have gone to the cordon.
“People got a half an hour window last night to go in to their homes for a couple of minutes to feed their animals but there wasn’t any proper warning, neighbours who are there are the ones getting this information.
“We are stressing about our pets and I’m about to go into labour any day now. I want somewhere to go home if I have my baby.”
Lisa, who has a 13-year-old son called Jack, has moved in with her boyfriend who lives a 15-minute drive from her home but, due to him decorating the house, there is not enough space for them as they’re unable to make use of the living room.
Army’s explosive ordnance disposal team on Chadwick Road(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
“I went to see the midwife and I just had to come back and go to bed,” Lisa said. “There is nowhere for me us to just sit.”
People needing to organise accommodation being directed to Chain Lane Community Centre where council officers can assist them.
Refreshments and essentials bags are available to residents at the community centre, although Lisa said people are becoming frustrated with the situation.
She said: “People are kicking off. Some were trying to jump over there own fences to get in and feed their pets. They’re giving out bags of essentials with toilet roll, a bit of food, toothpaste but when people complain they’re start handing out vouchers.
“People are fed up, they’re having to pay for food when they have it in their homes.”