An investigation is under way today after a suspect package was found at a house in Birkenhead, leading to a major police operation.

It was discovered by the landlord of a recently-vacated property which he had gone to check on at around 5.30pm yesterday.

The landord reported his suspicions to the police and local officers closed the roads and evacuated homes within a 100m safety cordon on Park Road East and Paterson Street.

But experts found the package to be an imitation or hoax, and residents were allowed back into their homes.

This morning the property where the device was found remained sealed off for forensics officers to check the object for fingerprints.

The drama began last night when people in the area reported seeing a large number of police vehicles near Park Road East, where a cordon was put up.

Images from the scene showed at least five police cars on the road, and the Royal Army Logistics Corps bomb disposal joined them in the area together with a bomb disposal robot.

Police incident on Park Road East,Birkenhead,Wirral. Army Bomb Diposal at the scene.

People were still being told to leave their houses as late as 10pm and a local authority evacuation plan had been put into effect to find people places to sleep.

Bomb disposal specialists remained at the scene till after 11pm to carry out tests on the device, while police remained until the early hours of this morning.

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