AN ABANDONED 'suspicious package' caused a security alert outside a police station.

Police were called into action and had to evacuate Portswood Police Station in Southampton and seal off the road until the threat was found to be a false alarm.

An officer reported the package leaning against the police station in St Denys Road, Portswood, to the force at around 9.40am yesterday,

Daily Echo:

PICTURED: Portswood Police Station

The station was promptly evacuated and a section of St Denys Road surrounding it was sealed off to traffic and pedestrians.

However, after making an initial assessment police concluded it was not suspicious.

It turned out that it was lost property that had been left outside and the suitcase has now been returned to its owner.

The road re-opened 40 minutes later.

A force spokesman was unable to say if bomb disposal experts had been called in.