Police have spent three days searching a wooded area in Newcastle as part of an ongoing investigation.
Specialist search team officers taped off woodland behind Amelia Walk in Benwell. They were using tools to search through the undergrowth on Wednesday morning.
Seven police vehicles, including two specialist search team vans, were at the scene. Local residents told Chronicle Live that officers had been searching the area since Monday.
Read more: Benwell police searches LIVE: Updates as massive area of woodland cordoned off
Linda Johnson, 66, has lived in the area for 47 years. The carer said: "I went out on Monday and they (the police) were there. There was one car there all night. They must have been watching so nobody came on the scene."
Another lady, who lives in the area but did not wish to be identified, said: "I thought what has happened here! It was a bit scary. They've been there three days. I don't know what's happened."
Student nurse Yakub Ghbreslossie, 37, who lives nearby, was concerned by the sight of so many police officers.
He said: "My wife was worried about it. We feel like it's not normal to see such things so we feel a little worried about it. We are living here so if something has happened it might affect us."
A man, who lives near the area but does not want to be named, said: "It’s not a safe environment up here. You can’t get a police officer and then something like this happens and they all turn up at once."
A mum, who lives near the wooded area but does not want to be identified, said she was not worried about the police presence. She said: "If you don’t see police around here then you worry!"
Another local resident added: "It must be something dangerous. It doesn't bother me as you can't do anything about it."
A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "Searches are ongoing in the Benwell area in connection with an ongoing investigation."
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