Employees at King’s Mead House had to be evacuated after police reportedly removed a suspect suitcase in Oxpens Road.

A research analyst there said staff were ordered to leave the building at about 5pm on Thursday because of the suitcase, which is believed to have been near Falklands House.

The man, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “We were told to get out the building because apparently someone had moved a suitcase and police were surrounding it.”

Police spokeswoman Lucy Billen confirmed the road was shut from 4.43pm to 5.15pm to allow officers to deal with a suspect package.