POLICE say a suspicious item which prompted a response from bomb disposal experts was a discarded child’s buggy containing wires and electrical items.

Army experts were called to the centre of Scarborough this morning (Friday, October 11) when a suspicious item was reported outside the Miss Selfridge clothing store on Westborough just before 9am.

Police cordoned off the area and evacuated neighbouring shops.

They then called in the army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team. Police said earlier today they carried out a controlled explosion of the item as a precaution.

But they say they have now established it posed no risk.

Chief Inspector Mark Grange, the Scarborough Safer Neighbourhood Commander, said: “I want to thank the people of Scarborough, business owners and those visitors who were affected during the emergency incident on Westborough today.

“The police and our emergency service colleagues had to respond to a report at 8.52am of a suspicious item that was left near to the Miss Selfridge store.

“As a necessary precaution to ensure the public’s safety, we had to put in place a 100m cordon which meant that people had to be evacuated to a safe distance.

“The Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team was called in to assess the item and they determined that it posed no danger. The item was a discarded child’s buggy with a set of old speakers and batteries inside.

“The area was returned to normality by 1.15pm.

"The safety of the public is always our number one priority and we had to follow the well-rehearsed emergency response procedure to reduce the potential risk of harm.

“Again, I thank everyone for the help and co-operation during the incident.”