Concern for the family of the police officer who went to the aid of the poisoned Russian spy has grown after Army and police sealed off his street and began work to remove his car for examination.

Speculation grew that Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey may have carried traces of the nerve agent Novichok home with him after attempting to resuscitate Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

Police erected a wide cordon around DS Bailey’s street, in the village of Alderholt, 20 minutes drive from Salisbury on Thursday.

At the same time, soldiers set up tents and began unloading equipment such as boxes and tables on a village green yards from his semi-detached house in a quiet cul-de-sac.

Firefighters in chemical protection suits were seen preparing to begin the operation to remove the officer's family car.