Force officials refused to say why the search was taking place or what officers were looking for.

A force spokesman said: "Since Wednesday police have been conducting a search of a piece of land in Blidworth as part of an ongoing investigation.

"Specialised search and forensics teams will be utilised to eliminate the land from their enquiries. Police officers will remain on a cordon in order to preserve the area."

A local resident, who did not want to be named, told Chad he had seen vans full of officers and a private security guard protecting the site.

He said: "They've put a tent up in the field and there are police cars parked up at the top of Beck Crescent. I saw them digging on Friday but it all started happening on Wednesday afternoon."

Another local resident, who also did not want to be named, said they had been threatened by an unnamed man close to the same location on Wednesday.

In a Twitter post, Blidworth Neighbourhood Watch said 'four big police vans, two squad cars, five unmarked cars and a helicopter' were seen leaving Blidworth Police station mid-morning on Wednesday.