West London Chaos as Suspected Radioactive Material Sparks Mass Evacuation
Radioactive Scare Hits Hammersmith Street
Residents of Bentworth Road in west London were forced out of their homes last night after a cleaner stumbled upon suspected radioactive material. The discovery came while clearing out a semi-detached house owned by an elderly hoarding couple – just 100 yards from a local primary school.
The private cleaning firm was tasked with clearing the cluttered property when the alarm was raised. Cleaner George, who found the suspicious bags, took them to a nearby scrapyard, where scanners flagged the material as radioactive. The scrapyard refused to accept the bags, prompting George to alert the authorities.
Emergency Teams On High Alert
Specialist CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) teams rushed to the scene. Around a dozen homes were evacuated, with residents banned from re-entering while experts scoured the area for hazards.
“I’ve cleaned so many houses like this and often don’t know what’s inside,”
said George, highlighting the dangers of dealing with hoarded properties.
A concerned neighbour added: “It’s worrying because their garden backs onto mine. They were nice people but serious hoarders – you couldn’t even move inside their house.”
The Hoarding History Behind the Hazard
The property belonged to an elderly couple known locally for decades of hoarding. The 90-year-old woman sadly died last Christmas, and her husband has since moved into a care home.
George described the house as packed to the brim with clutter, suggesting the radioactive material could have been hidden away for years without anyone realising its danger.
All Clear Given – Residents Return Home
The Metropolitan Police later confirmed the substance was checked and found to be safe. A spokesperson said:
“We were called after a person found an item they believed contained a harmful or chemical substance. It was checked and found to be safe. No further action.”
With emergency crews stood down, families have since been allowed back into their homes, though the unsettling discovery has left the community shaken.
