Shopping centre evacuated over suspicious package

A cordon was put around The Potteries Centre in Hanley but has since been lifted

A shopping centre was evacuated on Wednesday, following reports of a suspicious package inside the building.

Emergency services were called at 15.30 GMT on Wednesday to The Potteries Centre in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.

A 100m (328 ft) cordon was put in place around the outside of the centre, and Town Road was closed, Staffordshire Police said. Explosives experts were also on the scene providing advice to officers.

The cordon was later lifted, and surrounding roads reopened, after the package was found to be non-suspicious and deemed to be no risk to the public.

Bosses at the shopping centre apologised for any disruption and said they hoped to get back to "business as usual" soon.

The centre was reopened at about 16.30.