Part of the investigation into the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter moved to Dorset yesterday.

A section of Hyde Road in Gillingham was closed as the armed forces were called to remove a breakdown truck that was used to move the car of former agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, who were targeted in a nerve agent attack.

Events unfolded in north Dorset as tensions heightened between the UK and Russia with the Prime Minister saying she will expel Russian diplomats from Britain.

Members of the military wearing grey forensic suits covered the recovery truck parked in Hyde Road before using a crane to lift onto their own recovery vehicle. There was a police presence overseeing the operation. Officers said there was no risk to the public and no homes were evacuated.

It is believed the recovery truck was used to move Mr Skripal’s red BMW, which was left at Sainsbury’s car park in Salisbury on Sunday, March 4, the day of the attack.

Dorset Police placed notices on lampposts at Hyde Road and the surrounding neighbourhood. It warned a full police cordon would be in place and vehicles in the area between Coronation Road and Waverland Terrace. Initially the cordon was in place up to Coronation Road, but this was extended yesterday morning along a section of Tomlins Lane.

While there was a concentrated multi-agency presence at the cordon, the rest of Gillingham remained untouched.

Residents watched on as the operation to remove the vehicle was completed.

North Dorset MP Simon Hoare asked Theresa May for an update on the situation in Gillingham during questions in the House of Commons.

He said: “Residents in my constituency , Hyde Road in Gillingham, saw the Metropolitan Police and the Army in place, the street in lockdown, removing vehicles and items linked to the Salisbury incident.

“Could (the PM) confirm two things? First, that she and the government and the security services are doing all that they can to keep my constituents safe and can she arrange for somebody to provide a briefing to me as the member of parliament as to precisely what’s happening.”

Mrs May replied: “Can I say to my honourable friend I am very happy to do that. As he will be aware, the police investigation does continue and we cannot say where that investigation is going to take the police in terms of their further inquiries, but I will ensure that he is provided with a briefing.”

Meanwhile, after reiterating his call for greater armed forces funding, South Dorset MP Richard Drax said: “The current stand off with Russia is just one illustration of why we need to fund our defences properly.”