ELY police station had to be evacuated this morning (Tuesday) following a bomb scare.

Police received what was described as a “suspect package” from a member of the public at about 10am and immediately contacted explosives experts from RAF Wittering in Huntingdon.

Officers had to leave the building, on Nutholt Lane, for more than three hours while the package, which was found in a shop in Ely, was examined.

It was determined that the package, which officers said was designed to look like a viable device, was in fact a hoax.

A Cambridgeshire police spokesperson said: “Ely Police Station was evacuated this morning as a precaution after a suspicious package was handed in.

“Explosives experts from RAF Wittering attended the scene to carry out further examinations and found the device to be a hoax. The area is now safe and the cordon has been removed. An investigation will now be carried out.”