Two fire engines have been seen arriving at Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s home, Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate, this afternoon. At 12.25pm one drove up the lane with its blue lights and siren blasting, with another response vehicle behind it. A second fire engine arrived shortly afterwards.

One witness said: “There were no police or security around. The fire engine just suddenly arrives. They all went in and came out perhaps five or six minutes later. No-one had idea of what was going on.” It appears to have been a false alarm as the vehicles left shortly after arriving at the property.

Andrew has been holed up at his temporary home in Norfolk since he was released from police custody on Thursday evening.

The former prince was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office after being accused of sharing sensitive information with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein while serving as the UK’s trade envoy.

He was pictured leaving the police station and later returned to Wood Farm where he hasn’t been seen since.

Police, who had been stationed outside Andrew’s home since the arrest, are no longer guarding the estate’s entrance. Instead, a sign had been added warning journalists and photographers.

It reads: “This is a private property and no comment will be made to journalists. Photographers are also not permitted onto these private grounds of the Sandringham Estate. Please respect this decision. Failure to comply will be reported to IPSO [the press regulator].”