A POLICE station and the surrounding area were evacuated – after two unexploded shells were brought into the building.

York’s main police station on Fulford Road was emptied after a concerned member of the public brought the shells into the reception area.

The building was immediately evacuated and a 100-metre cordon was set up around the station at around 10.45am today, January 19.

And it was more than two hours later before the staff were allowed back inside and the cordon removed.

A police spokesman said: “Fulford Road police station in York was evacuated to allow the Army’s bomb disposal unit to assess and make safe, two historic artillery shells that were handed into the police station.

"A 100-metre cordon was put in place as a precaution which also resulted in nearby business premises being evacuated to ensure the safety of their staff.”

The spokesman added: “The Army’s bomb disposal unit arrived at 1pm, declared the devices safe and took them away for disposal.”

The force’s main control room was unaffected by the scare.