Police have released two men who were arrested after home-made bombs were found at a flat near Gatwick airport.

One man remains in custody after police were yesterday granted an extra 72 hours to question the men.

The men, aged 41, 38 and 35, were held under the Terrorism Act 2000 following the discovery of two devices at a flat in Langley Green, Crawley.

The discovery of the bombs at the flat above an engraving shop in Langley Parade on Tuesday afternoon prompted police to evacuate 25 neighbouring properties.

Residents began returning to their homes on Wednesday night after an Army bomb disposal team declared the area safe.

They removed the bombs after searching the flat for any other dangerous materials. Nothing else was found.

A Sussex police spokesman said: "Two men have been released and a third man remains in custody."

He could not give any further details.

Police first went to the flat to question the 41-year-old man about an unrelated matter. He was taken to Crawley police station.

They later returned to the first floor flat where they discovered the devices. Two men were arrested.

Police chiefs said there were no links between the men, all believed to be Portuguese, and any specific targets or organisations.

Locals said they thought the suspects worked at Gatwick airport, less than three miles away.

Landlord David Matthews, 34, said he had rented the property to a man called Jose Pestana, but had not been in the flat for more than a year.