Around 100 members of staff were evacuated from the city council’s offices in Military Road, Cantebrury, today in a suspect package alert.

Police were called and sealed off part of the offices while the device was examined.

After inquiries it turned out to be one of the council’s lifeline boxes which had been returned following the death of a client.

Once the relevant council officer had been contacted and verified the box, staff were allowed back in after 45 minutes.

The council employs 800 people at Military Road.