TWO men who were arrested under the Terrorism Act as they travelled on a North-East train were released without charge last night.

The pair had been on an East Coast Main Line service to King's Cross when they were detained at Grantham railway station, in Lincolnshire, on Tuesday night.

The GNER train left Glasgow at 6pm and called at Newcastle Central Station shortly after 8.30pm, before stopping at Durham, Darlington and York.

It was stopped following information from two off-duty Metropolitan Police officers, who were also on board.

The two men were taken to a police station in Lincolnshire for questioning, but were released after "extensive inquiries" by detectives.

It is not known where and when the two men boarded, but a witness said they were in their seats when he got on at Newcastle.

Passenger Joe Shipley told how police, armed with submachine guns and side-arms, and some with dogs, burst into the carriages at Grantham. He said: "There had been a long delay and we'd been told it was because of problems on the line.

"Then, all of a sudden, a team of armed police came onto the train.

"There must have been about 20, maybe more, and they had sniffer dogs with them. They swept through the train checking everyone's bags.

"Then they took two men off, pushing their faces to the ground and holding their arms behind their back.

"I got on the train at Newcastle and they must have been on before me. Everyone was strangely calm."

The GNER service did not arrive into King's Cross until 3.15am - more than three hours behind schedule.

* A bomb disposal team was called to Frankland Prison, near Durham City, yesterday after a suspicious parcel was received in the post.

A bomb disposal team from Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, was sent to the scene, but declared the package safe.