BOMB disposal officers have carried out a controlled explosion on a suspect package found in Blyth, Northumberland on Tuesday night.

A section of Cowpen Road, near to Blyth Service Station, was closed for a short time to allow the incident to be dealt with. The road has now been reopened.

Police responded to  reports of a suspect package at 6.30pm and put a cordon in place as a precaution while enquiries were carried out.

Explosives Ordnance Disposal attended and as a precaution a controlled explosion was carried out to allow it to be examined.

Extra officers are in the area to offer reassurance and to continue to ensure any disruption to the community is kept to a minimum.

Inspector Elizabeth Hall, of Northern Area Command, said: "We recognise this incident may have caused concern to the local community but I'd like to reassure them the incident was dealt with quickly and with as little disruption as possible. We do not believe that at any point there was any risk to the wider public.

"A controlled explosion was carried out as a precaution so the package can be examined to establish what it is. Extra officers will remain in the area to offer reassurance to the local community."

Enquiries into the incident are continuing, any witnesses, or anyone with information, should contact Northumbria Police on 101 ext 69191 quoting reference 1057 140715 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.