A POLLING station in Scotland was forced to close in the early hours of this morning after a suspicious device was found nearby.

Police were called to the Glen Tower flats in Motherwell at around 1am on polling day after concerns were raised.

A package was found on the ground floors of the North Lanarkshire building, which had been set to host a polling station in its community room.

The building had to be evacuated and a cordon placed around the building, with residents forced into the freezing temperatures.

A controlled explosion was then carried out, with experts saying the device was “non-viable.”

Chief inspector Mark Leonard said: “A cordon was placed around the building and residents within the cordon were evacuated for safety reasons.

“Police liaised with explosive ordnance device staff to examine the item and a controlled explosion was carried out as a precaution.

“It was to found to be a non-viable device.

“The evacuation of residents within the cordon has now ended and police are working with North Lanarkshire Council to return people to their homes.”

Following the building’s closure, the local council set up a replacement polling station at a nearby primary school with less than six hours’ notice — which was open by 7am.

The council said: “All residents are safe and police are carrying out enquiries.”

Police Scotland have now arrested a 48-year-old man following the incident.

Chief inspector Leonard said: “Police in Motherwell have arrested a 48-year-old man in connection with a suspicious device found on the ground floor of Glen Tower flats, Motherwell, around 1am on Thursday December 12 2019.

“Enquiries are ongoing.”