A MENTAL health hospital had to be evacuated after five explosive devices were found.

Police were called to Southleigh Community Hospital, in Brighton Road, South Croydon, last Wednesday, where they found improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Angie Dews, 42, a transsexual formerly known as known as Mark Camm, was arrested at the scene by police.

She did not enter a plea when she appeared at Croydon Magistrates' Court on Friday and spoke briefly to confirm her name.

Peter Bonham, prosecuting, said: "Police attended the address.

"It was evacuated and the fire brigade were called as a precaution.

"They removed five crudely built but completed IEDs, all made out of household materials and wood."

A police spokesman confirmed that officers were called at about 5.30pm last Wednesday.

Dews was arrested and was charged the following day with five counts of making an explosive substance for an unlawful purpose.

The court was told Dews is currently undergoing a gender realignment and has lived as a woman for a year.

She has been taking hormone therapy medication since 1999 and has had an initial operation to change her gender.

Defending, Louise Hartley added: "She is required to live as a woman before being given the [final] operation and has lived as a woman for one year."

At one stage she corrected the court clerk for referring to her as a "he".

Magistrate Victoria Watkins refused Dews bail and remanded her in custody to appear at Croydon Crown Court on March 23.

Southleigh Community, which offers accommodation for patients, is an independent mental health hospital which health watchdog – the Care Quality Commission – ruled needed to make improvements to ensure "people should get safe and appropriate care" in a report published last month after an inspection.