Crockery and a clock were the cause of a major security alert in Ashford on Monday afternoon.

A suitcase and a wooden box had been left outside Lloyds Bank in the High Street causing the police to seal off the area as a precaution.

The army were called in to carry out two controlled explosions.

At 3.10pm the bank was shut and police guided shoppers away from the building while they dealt with the incident.

At about 4.20pm a wider area was sealed off: from Boots to WHSmith, was sealed off and most of Bank Street.

Shoppers watched as an army bomb disposal team carried out a controlled explosion.

The roads around the High Street were closed until 5.45 pm.

Police are making enquiries to trace the owner.