EMERGENCY services have been called after a casing of a shell was found at the Penlake Industrial Estate.

Police were alerted to the area after construction workers found a device on the industrial estate.

The Fire and Rescue Service and ambulance were also called to the scene and the Bomb Disposal squad have also attended.

British Transport Police are also at the site.

The fire and ambulance services have now left.

People are being asked to avoid the area.

Police say the device "has been declared safe and will be removed shortly".

A police spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that emergency services are currently in St Helens following reports of a device being found this morning, Friday March 2.

"At around 8.55am, construction workers found a device in Penlake Industrial Estate.

"People are asked to avoid the area while these enquiries are carried out. Nobody has been evacuated at this stage.

"A cordon is in place at Lionel Street and Penlake Lane."

On Tuesday last week police were called to the area after an unexploded Second World War bomb had been found at the industrial estate.