A LANE of the M40 motorway was closed off by police yesterday amid reports that liquid explosives were found by teenagers at the roadside.

Two 13-year-olds cycling through Fennell's Wood, Loudwater, on Wednesday night discovered two bin liners, which they say contained bottles of liquid.

The youngsters tipped out the bags' contents which then smoked and bubbled on the ground.

The terrified teenagers fled from the wood and dialled 999.

They were being interviewed by anti-terror police at a secret location in South Bucks yesterday.

Police told one of the boys' mothers that what they discovered was an important find'.

The mother, from Hatters Lane, High Wycombe, added: "We didn't know what it was, but the police have said that it is bomb-making equipment."

The discovery was close to Loudwater Combined School.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police descended on the stretch of motorway between junctions three and four.

Teams of explosives officers were called to the scene a month after the anti-terror raids shook the town.

The slow lane of the eastbound carriageway between junctions three and four was coned off and reduced to two lanes as a precautionary measure.

Forensic teams continued the investigation on Thursday morning, while the lane closure between Handy Cross and Loudwater caused severe tailbacks during rush hour.

Thames Valley Police officers stood guard at the scene of the roped-off area of Fennell's Wood.

The Metropolitan Police however would not confirm or deny that liquid explosives had been found.

A spokeswoman, who would not be named, added: "We are not prepared to discuss what the items are and we are not prepared to speculate whether the items are linked to any ongoing investigations. "

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