A shopping centre in Stoke-on-Trent was evacuated on Wednesday afternoon following reports of a suspicious package inside the building.
Emergency services responded to the incident at The Potteries Centre in Hanley at around 3:30 PM GMT. Staffordshire Police established a 100-metre (328 ft) cordon around the area, leading to the temporary closure of Town Road. Explosives specialists were also called in to assist officers with the assessment.
After a thorough investigation, authorities determined that the package posed no threat, and the cordon was lifted. Roads in the surrounding area were also reopened.
The shopping centre management apologised for any inconvenience caused and expressed their eagerness to resume normal operations. By approximately 4:30 PM, The Potteries Centre had reopened to the public. Photo by www fotodiscs4u co uk, Wikimedia commons.