Police in Portugal have confiscated around 500 kilos of explosives, found in a house in the central town of Obidos.

After a search of the house following a tip-off, police discovered the explosives and bomb-making equipment.

It is believed the residents of the house fled after two of their colleagues were stopped in a routine traffic search and were found to be carrying detonators.

Spain has claimed the house was being used by members of ETA, the Basque separatist movement, although Portugal has not confirmed this.

In January, two members of ETA were arrested in Portugal as they were driving a van loaded with explosives towards a Spanish police barracks just over the border.