City centre market is evacuated after a suspicious 'beeping' package is found - just 24 hours after police foiled 'a Christmas bomb plot'

Emergency services descended on Peterborough this morning over fears
It is understood a beeping sound was heard coming from a bin in the city
A controlled explosion was later carried out by a bomb disposal team
See more of the latest Breaking News as Peterborough market is evacuated

By Richard Spillett for MailOnline

Published: 11:44 GMT, 13 December 2016 | Updated: 12:54 GMT, 13 December 2016

e-mail

View
comments

Police have closed streets around a market in central Peterborough after a 'beeping' public bin caused a bomb scare.

A 100m cordon was set up by the emergency services as a precaution after the alert was raised at 9:30am today.

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal squad was called in and a controlled explosion was carried out around 11:30am.

Peterborough city centre, including the city's market, have been evacuated over bomb fears

The market, which would usually be bustling with Christmas shoppers, lay empty this morning

A bomb disposal team is said to have been called to the city after a 'beeping' sound was heard

Locals reported that a Tannoy called for people to evacuate the scene with an extended cordon along the road.

The nearby Passport Office claimed that the suspected bomb had already been found by local police.

Peterborough City Council have closed their Bayard Place offices as a precaution, with council staff being moved to the Town Hall while the emergency services work at the scene.

Services available at Bayard Place will now be dealt with at the Town Hall, but residents have been warned that only urgent and emergency issues can be addressed there.

Fire crews and police closed off the market - the day after fears were raised of a terror plot

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire Police asked locals to remain vigilant during the incident

A controlled explosion was carried out at around 11:30, roughly two hours after the first report

It comes 24 hours after terror police launched mass terror raids across the country and arrested six people in Derby, Burton upon Trent and London in the early hours of Monday morning.

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire Police said: 'We would ask people to remain alert and vigilant but not to be alarmed and we are grateful for the assistance, support and understanding of people locally.

'We are grateful for local residents understanding, patience and support while the searches are concluded.'