POLICE are hunting those responsible for a bomb alert that led to part of a County Durham village being sealed off today.

Police cordoned off an area around Front Street in Annfield Plain, near Stanley, County Durham, for several hours after the discovery of a package at the Coral Racing betting shop.

The alarm was raised when a customer found a note among betting slips at 2.30pm demanding money and stating an explosive device had been left on the premises.

Roads surrounding the shop were closed to traffic and bus operators were advised to temporarily amend their routes, while a team of Army bomb disposal experts from Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, inspected the package and carried out a controlled explosion.

Helen Howdon, a stewardess at the neighbouring Demi social club, said: "We had about 30 customers on the premises when the girl from the bookmakers came running in and told us we all had to evacuate the building as there was a bomb scare.

"She said a customer had found a note among the betting slips demanding money and with instructions of where to leave it.

"It threatened that a bomb had been left on the premises and that it would go off if the demands were not met."

Chief Inspector Ian Butler, of Durham Police, who directed the operation at the scene, said: "A member of the public brought the attention of members of staff to a note left in the office.

"As a result of the contents of that note a cursory search found what they described as a suspicious device, which was placed in one of the rooms.

"A police officer then inspected the device and because of its shape and diameter considered it suspicious and some form of explosive device."

The surrounding commercial premises were evacuated and a cordon thrown around the business centre.

Front Street, in the direction of Catchgate, and West Road, towards Greencroft were affected.

Annfield Plain Junior and Infants schools were also warned of the situation and advised that parents might be late arriving to collect children at the end of the school day.

Chief Insp Butler said no houses had been evacuated, as the incident was in the commercial heart village.

The Army bomb disposal team carried out a controlled explosion at about 6pm when it was discovered the device was not viable.

Chief Insp Butler said: "The device has been described as being an imitation device, so at this time it is being treated as a hoax.

"However, we are now conducting a full investigation and forensic examination of the premises which is regarded as a crime scene."

Anyone with information has been urged to contact the police on 0845-60-60-365 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.